Beverage-making apparatus

ABSTRACT

A beverage-making apparatus includes a water supply heater configured to heat water; an ingredient supplier connected to the water supply heater through a water supply channel, the ingredient supplier having an ingredient accommodation part formed therein; an air injector connected to the water supply channel; and a container connected to the ingredient supplier through a first channel.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of an earlier filing date and rightof priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 and 365 to U.S. Provisional ApplicationNo. 62/338,498 filed on May 18, 2016, and Korean Patent Application No.10-2016-0105789 filed on Aug. 19, 2016 in the Korean IntellectualProperty Office, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein byreference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to beverage making apparatus.

BACKGROUND

Various types of beverages are made via fermentation. Such beverages aretypically made using various ingredients that are combined and fermentedto yield the resulting beverage. As an example, beer is an alcoholicbeverage that is brewed by filtering wort, adding hops to the wort, andthen fermenting the resulting wort mixture with yeast. Wort is typicallymade with malt, which is made from germinated barley.

Materials for brewing beer typically include water, malt, hops, yeast,fragrance additives, and the like. The yeast is often referred to asleaven, and is typically added to malt to induce fermentation. The yeastmay also facilitate the generation of alcohol and carbonic acid. In somescenarios, fragrance additives are added that improve the taste of beer,such as fruit, syrup, and vanilla bean additives.

SUMMARY

Implementations described herein provide a beverage-making apparatus.

In one aspect, a beverage-making apparatus includes a water supplyheater configured to heat water; an ingredient supplier connected to thewater supply heater through a water supply channel, the ingredientsupplier having an ingredient accommodation part formed therein; an airinjector connected to the water supply channel; and a containerconnected to the ingredient supplier through a first channel.

In some implementations, the beverage-making apparatus further includesa first valve configured to regulate a flow through the first channel.

In some implementations, the beverage-making apparatus further includesa second valve configured to regulate a flow through the water supplychannel and provided between the ingredient accommodation part and aconnecting part of the air injector; and a bypass channel connected tothe water supply channel and to the first channel by bypassing theingredient accommodation part.

In some implementations, the beverage-making apparatus further includesa bypass valve configured to regulate a flow through the bypass channel.

In some implementations, the beverage-making apparatus further includes:at least one processor; a first valve configured to regulate a flowthrough the first channel; a second valve provided between the watersupply channel and the ingredient accommodation part; a bypass channelconnected to the water supply channel and to the first channel bybypassing the ingredient accommodation part; and a bypass valveconfigured to regulate a flow through the bypass channel. The at leastone processor is configured to: in a state in which water is supplied tothe container or air is injected into the container, open the firstvalve and the bypass valve, and close the second valve.

In some implementations, the beverage-making apparatus further includes:a water tank configured to hold water therein; and a water supply pumpconfigured to pump the water out of the water tank towards the watersupply heater. The at least one processor is configured to: in a statein which the water is supplied to the container, activate the watersupply pump.

In some implementations, the beverage-making apparatus further includesa flow meter configured to measure a flow rate of water introduced intothe water supply heater, the flow meter provided in a water supply pumpoutlet channel connecting the water supply pump and the water supplyheater therethrough. The at least one processor configured to: based onthe flow rate measured by the flow meter being within a first range offlow rate values, activate the water supply heater.

In some implementations, the beverage-making apparatus further includesa thermistor configured to measure a temperature of water heated by thewater supply heater, the thermistor provided in at least one of thewater supply channel or the water supply heater. The at least oneprocessor is configured to: activate the water supply heater; and basedon the temperature measured by the thermistor being within a first rangeof temperature values, calculate an injection amount of hot waterinjected into the container.

In some implementations, the at least one processor is configured to:based on the injection amount of hot water into the container exceedinga threshold injection amount, deactivate the water supply pump and thewater supply heater.

In some implementations, the beverage-making apparatus further includesa gas discharger that includes: a gas extraction channel connected tothe container; and a gas extraction valve configured to regulate a flowthrough the gas extraction channel. The air injector includes an airinjection channel connected to the water supply channel; and an airinjection pump configured to pump air to the air injection channel. Theat least one processor is configured to activate the air injection pumpto inject air into the container.

In some implementations, the at least one processor is configured to: ina first state in which the air injection pump injects air into thecontainer, close the gas extraction valve.

In some implementations, the gas discharger further includes a pressuresensor provided on the gas extraction channel. The at least oneprocessor is configured to: based on a pressure measured by the pressuresensor exceeding a threshold pressure, deactivate the air injection pumpand open the gas extraction valve.

In some implementations, the at least one processor is configured to: ina second state in which the air injection pump injects air into thecontainer, open the gas extraction valve.

In some implementations, the at least one processor is configured to:based on a first duration of time elapsing after the air injection pumpis activate, deactivate the air injection pump.

In some implementations, the beverage-making apparatus further includes:at least one processor; a first valve configured to regulate a flowthrough the first channel; and a second valve provided between the watersupply channel and the ingredient accommodation part. The at least oneprocessor is configured to: in a state in which an ingredient that isaccommodated in the ingredient accommodation part is extracted, open thefirst valve and the second valve.

In some implementations, the beverage-making apparatus further includes:a water tank configured to hold water therein; and a water supply pumpconfigured to pump the water out of the water tank towards the watersupply heater. The at least one processor is configured to: in a statein which an ingredient that is accommodated in the ingredientaccommodation part is extracted, activate the water supply pump.

In some implementations, the at least one processor is configured to:based on a first duration of time elapsing after the water supply pumpis activated, deactivate the water supply pump.

In some implementations, the beverage-making apparatus further includes:at least one processor; a first valve configured to regulate a flowthrough the first channel; and a second valve provided between the watersupply channel and the ingredient accommodation part. The air injectorincludes: an air injection channel connected to the water supplychannel; and an air injection pump configured to pump air into the airinjection channel. The at least one processor is configured to: in astate in which water remaining in the ingredient supplier is removed,open the first valve and the second valve and activate the air injectionpump.

In some implementations, the at least one processor is configured to:based on first preset duration of time elapsing after the air injectionpump is activated, deactivate the air injection pump.

In some implementations, the beverage-making apparatus further includes:at least one processor; and a gas discharger configured to discharge gasfrom inside the container to an outside of the container, the gasdischarger including: a gas extraction channel connected to thecontainer; and a gas extraction valve configured to regulate a flowthrough the gas extraction channel. The at least one processor isconfigured to: open the gas extraction valve in a state in which wateris supplied to the container, or ingredients accommodated in theingredient accommodation part are extracted, or water remaining in theingredient supplier is removed.

Further scope of applicability of the present disclosure will becomeapparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, itshould be understood that the detailed description and specificexamples, while indicating preferred implementations of the disclosure,are given by illustration only, since various changes and modificationswithin the spirit and scope of the disclosure will become apparent tothose skilled in the art from this detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a beverage makeraccording to some implementations;

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a perspective view of thebeverage maker according to some implementations;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a perspective view of aninside of the beverage maker according to some implementations;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a front view of an insideof the beverage maker according to some implementations;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a perspective view of aningredient supplier of the beverage maker according to someimplementations;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a perspective view of aninside of a lid module shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a plan view of an insideof the ingredient supplier of the beverage maker according to someimplementations;

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a sectional view takenalong line A-A of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a plan view of aningredient package accommodation body of the beverage maker according tosome implementations;

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a bottom view of alocking mechanism for an ingredient package accommodation body of thebeverage maker according to some implementations;

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a partially explodedperspective view of the ingredient supplier of the beverage makeraccording to some implementations;

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a sectional view of aninside of the ingredient supplier of the beverage maker according tosome implementations;

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a sectional view when aplurality of ingredient package accommodation parts shown in FIG. 12 areopened;

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of a sectional view of aninside of a container, such as a fermentation tank assembly, of thebeverage maker according to some implementations;

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of a sectional view when anopening shown in FIG. 14 is opened;

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a side view of an example of abeverage ingredient pack of the beverage maker according to someimplementations;

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a sectional view of the example of thebeverage ingredient pack of the beverage maker according to someimplementations;

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating a side view of another example of thebeverage ingredient pack of the beverage maker according to someimplementations;

FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating a sectional view of the anotherexample of the beverage ingredient pack of the beverage maker accordingto some implementations;

FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating a sectional view of still anotherexample of the beverage ingredient pack of the beverage maker accordingto some implementations;

FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating an example of a sectional view of abeverage extraction valve of the beverage maker according to someimplementations;

FIG. 22 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a control sequence ofthe beverage maker according to some implementations; and

FIG. 23 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a controlconfiguration of the beverage maker according to some implementations;

FIG. 24 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a control sequence ofa supplying step in a beverage brewing technique of the beverage-makingapparatus according to some implementations;

FIG. 25 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a control sequenceaccording to a first implementation of a primary hot water supplyingstep shown in FIG. 24;

FIG. 26 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a detailed controlsequence of a primary air injecting step shown in FIG. 24;

FIG. 27 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a control sequenceaccording to a first implementation of a secondary hot water supplyingstep shown in FIG. 24;

FIG. 28 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a detailed controlsequence of a secondary air injecting step shown in FIG. 24;

FIG. 29 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a control sequenceaccording to a second implementation of the primary hot water supplyingstep shown in FIG. 24;

FIG. 30 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a control sequenceaccording to a second implementation of the secondary hot watersupplying step shown in FIG. 24;

FIG. 31 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a detailed controlsequence of a fermentation tank cooling step in the beverage makingtechniques of the beverage-making apparatus according to someimplementations;

FIG. 32 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a detailed controlsequence of a mixing step in the beverage-making technique of thebeverage-making apparatus according to some implementations;

FIG. 33 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a detailed controlsequence of a first additive injecting step in the beverage makingtechnique of the beverage-making apparatus according to someimplementations; and

FIG. 34 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a detailed controlsequence of removal step for removing remaining water in an ingredientsupplier in the beverage making technique of the beverage-makingapparatus according to some implementations.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Implementations described herein provide a beverage-making apparatusconfigured to supply ingredients for making a beverage. In someimplementations, the beverage-making apparatus supplies ingredients to acontainer, which may be a fermentation tank assembly. Thebeverage-making apparatus may supply the ingredients by utilizing hotwater to supply the ingredients to the container.

In some implementations, the beverage-making apparatus is configured tosupply air to the container, which again may be a fermentation tankassembly.

In some implementations, the beverage-making apparatus may heat waterusing a water supply heater, and supply the heated water to thecontainer. The heated water may pass through an ingredient accommodationpart that stores ingredients, so that ingredients for making thebeverage may be supplied to the container.

In some implementations, the beverage-making apparatus may implement abypass flow path that bypasses the ingredient accommodation part, sothat water or air may be supplied to the container without passingthrough the ingredient accommodation part of the ingredient supplier.

In some implementations, the beverage-making apparatus may implement awater supplying step that includes the hot water supplying step and theair injecting step, so that water may be better mixed with ingredientsin the container.

Further, in the mixing step, the beverage-making apparatus may improveaeration of the mixing process by supplying air into the container. Forexample, in the case of the beverage being beer, a gas (e.g., oxygen) issupplied to ingredients (e.g., yeast) contained in the container bysupplying the air to the container.

Further, in the additive injecting step, as hot water is injected intothe ingredient supplier, additives may be more easily injected by theingredient supplier, and additives may be mixed with the hot water to besupplied to the container.

Further, the beverage-making apparatus may be configured to remove waterthat remains in the ingredient supplier by injection of air. Forexample, in this ingredient supplier remaining water removing step, airmay be injected into the ingredient supplier, so that water that remainsin the ingredient supplier may be removed.

Further, in some implementations, one or more operations of thebeverage-making technique may be automatically controlled by at leastone processor, such as a controller.

Hereinafter, some implementations will be described in detail withreference to the accompanying drawings.

Some of the examples below describe a scenario in which thebeverage-making apparatus is specifically a beer-making apparatus.However, implementations are not limited therefore, and may beimplemented as any suitable beverage making apparatus that utilizesfermentation.

FIG. 1 is an entire configuration view of a beverage maker according toan implementation.

The beverage making apparatus, as shown in FIG. 1, may include afermentation module 1, an ingredient supplier 3 (or simply supplier 3)connected to the fermentation module 1 through a first channel 2 (whichmay be a main flow path), a water supply module 5 connected to thesupplier 3 through a water supply channel 4, and a beverage extractor 6that allows a beverage fermented in the fermentation module 1 to beextracted to the outside.

The fermentation module 1 includes a container, for example fermentationtank assembly 11, having a space S1 formed therein. The container mayinclude a container body, such as fermentation tank 112, and a containercover, such as fermentation tank cover 114.

In the example of FIG. 1, the fermentation tank assembly 11 includes afermentation tank 112 has an opening 111 formed at an upper portionthereof, the fermentation tank 112 having the space S1 formed therein,and a fermentation tank cover 114 covering the opening 111.

The fermentation tank 112 may be configured as an assembly of aplurality of members.

The fermentation tank cover 114 is used to seal the inside of thefermentation tank 112, and may be disposed at an upper portion of thefermentation tank 112 to cover the opening 111. A main flow pathconnecting part 115 connected to the main flow path 2 may be formed inthe fermentation tank cover 114.

In addition, the fermentation module 1 may further include a removablebeverage ingredient pack 12 that holds at least some of the ingredientsfor making the beverage. As shown in the example of FIG. 1, the beverageingredient pack 12 may be a beverage ingredient pack that is insertedand accommodated in the fermentation tank assembly 11.

In this example, the beverage ingredient pack 12 may be a pack in whichmaterials for brewing a beverage are accommodated. The followingdescription will focus on the scenario of a beverage brewing pack 12 asthe beverage ingredient pack, although implementations may be applied toany suitable beverage ingredient pack utilized for fermentation.

The beverage brewing pack 12 may be formed smaller than the space S1formed in the fermentation tank assembly 11.

The beverage brewing pack 12 may be inserted and accommodated in thefermentation tank assembly 11 in a state in which the materials areaccommodated therein. The beverage brewing pack 12 may be inserted intothe fermentation tank 112 to be accommodated in the fermentation tank112 in a state in which the opening 111 of the fermentation tank 112 isopened. The fermentation tank cover 114 may cover the opening 111 of thefermentation tank 112 after the beverage brewing pack 12 is insertedinto the fermentation tank 112. The beverage brewing pack 12 may assistthe materials to be fermented in a state in which the beverage brewingpack 12 is accommodated in the space S1 sealed by the fermentation tank112 and the fermentation tank cover 114. The beverage brewing pack 12may be expanded by a pressure therein while the beverage is beingbrewed.

As an example, in the case where the beverage is beer, the materials forbrewing the beer may include water, malt, yeast, hops, fragranceadditives, and the like.

In some implementations, the beverage maker may include both of theingredient supplier 3 and the beverage ingredient pack 12, and thematerials for brewing the beverage may be distributed and accommodatedin the supplier 3 and the beverage ingredient pack 12. Some materialsamong the materials for brewing the beverage may be accommodated in thebeverage ingredient pack 12, and the other materials may be accommodatedin the supplier 3. The other materials accommodated in the supplier 3may be supplied to the beverage ingredient pack 12 together with watersupplied from the water supply module 5, and be mixed with the materialsaccommodated in the beverage ingredient pack 12.

In some implementations, a main material essential to brew the beveragemay be accommodated in the beverage ingredient pack 12, and additivesadded to the main material may be accommodated in the ingredientsupplier 3. In this case, the additives accommodated in the supplier 3may be mixed with the water supplied from the water supply module 5 tobe supplied to the beverage ingredient pack 12, and be mixed with themain material accommodated in the beverage ingredient pack 12.

The main material accommodated in the beverage ingredient pack 12 is amaterial having a larger volume than the other materials, and may be, inthe case of beer, the malt among the malt, the yeast, the hops, and thefragrance additives. In addition, the additives accommodated in thesupplier 3 may be the other materials except the malt among the materialfor brewing the beer, and be the yeast, the hops, the fragranceadditives, and the like.

In some implementations, the beverage maker may not include both of thebeverage ingredient pack 12 and the ingredient supplier 3 as describedabove, but may include only the supplier 3 without any separate beverageingredient pack 12. All of the materials for brewing the beverage may beaccommodated in the supplier 3. In this case, all of the materialsaccommodated in the supplier 3 may be supplied to the inside of thefermentation tank assembly 11 together with the water supplied from thewater supply module 5. The main material and the additives may beaccommodated together in the supplier 3. The main material andadditives, which are accommodated in the supplier 3, may besimultaneously supplied to the inside of the fermentation tank assembly11 or be sequentially supplied with a time difference.

In yet other implementations, the beverage maker may not include anyseparate beverage ingredient pack 12, but may directly inject somematerials among the materials for brewing the beverage into thefermentation tank assembly 11 and allow the other materials for brewingthe beverage to be accommodated in the ingredient supplier 3. In thiscase, a user may directly inject the main material into the fermentationtank assembly 11, and the additives may be accommodated in the supplier3. The additives accommodated in the supplier 3 may be mixed with thewater supplied from the water supply module 5, and be mixed with themain material previously injected into the fermentation tank assembly11.

In yet other implementations, the beverage maker may not include theingredient supplier 3, but may include the beverage ingredient pack 12.In this case, the main material may be accommodated in the beverageingredient pack 12, and the user may directly inject the additives intothe beverage ingredient pack 12.

In still other implementations, the beverage maker may not include bothof the ingredient supplier 3 and the beverage ingredient pack 12, butinstead a user may directly inject the main material and the additivessimultaneously or with a time difference into the fermentation tankassembly 11.

When the beverage maker includes both of the ingredient supplier 3 andthe beverage ingredient pack 12, the beverage can be more convenientlybrewed. Hereinafter, the case where the beverage maker includes both ofthe supplier 3 and the beverage ingredient pack 12 is described as anexample. However, it will be apparent that the present disclosure is notlimited to the case where the beverage maker includes both of thesupplier 3 and the beverage ingredient pack 12.

The materials injected into the beverage ingredient pack 12 may befermented as time elapses. The beverage that has been completely brewedin the beverage ingredient pack 12 may flow in the main flow path 2through the main flow path connecting part 115, and flow from the mainflow path 2 to the beverage extractor 6 to be extracted from thebeverage extractor 6.

The fermentation module 1 may further include a temperature controllerthat changes a temperature of the fermentation tank assembly 11. As thetemperature controller heats or cools the fermentation tank assembly 11,the temperature of the fermentation tank assembly 11 can be controlledto an optimum temperature for brewing the beverage.

The temperature controller may include a refrigeration cycle apparatus13 including a compressor 131, a condenser 132, an expansion device 133,and an evaporator 134, and any one of the condenser 132 and theevaporator 134 may be disposed at the fermentation tank assembly 11.

When the condenser 132 is disposed in contact with the fermentation tank112, the refrigeration cycle apparatus 13 may control a temperature ofthe fermentation tank 112 by heating the fermentation tank 112. In thiscase, the condenser 132 may be disposed in contact with the outersurface of the fermentation tank 112. The condenser 132 may include acondensing tube wound around the outer surface of the fermentation tank112.

When the evaporator 134 is disposed in contact with the fermentationtank 112, the refrigeration cycle apparatus 13 may control thetemperature of the fermentation tank 112 by cooling the fermentationtank 112. In this case, the evaporator 134 may be disposed in contactwith the outer surface of the fermentation tank 112. The evaporator 134may include an evaporating tube wound around the outer surface of thefermentation tank 112. The evaporating tube may be accommodated betweenthe fermentation tank 112 and a heat insulating wall 102 (see FIGS. 3and 4), and cool the inside of a heat insulating space S2 heat-insulatedby the heat insulating wall 102.

The temperature controller may further include a heater 14 that heatsthe fermentation tank assembly 11. The heater 14 may be disposed incontact with the outer surface of the fermentation tank 112, and beconfigured as a heater that generates heat when power is appliedthereto. The heater 14 may be configured as a line heater, and be woundaround the outer surface of the fermentation tank 112.

The refrigeration cycle apparatus 13 may be configured as a heat pump.The refrigeration cycle apparatus 13 may include a flow path switchingvalve. The flow path switching valve may be configured as a four-wayvalve. The flow path switching valve may be connected to each of aninlet flow path of the compressor 131 and an outlet flow path of thecompressor 131. The flow path switching valve may be connected to thecondenser 132 through a condenser connection flow path, and be connectedto the evaporator 134 through an evaporator connection flow path.

When the fermentation tank 112 is cooled, the flow path switching valvemay guide a refrigerant compressed by the compressor 131 to thecondenser 132 and guide the refrigerant discharged from the evaporator134 to the compressor 131.

When the fermentation tank 112 is heated, the flow path switching valvemay guide the refrigerant compressed by the compressor 131 to theevaporator 134 and guide the refrigerant discharged from the condenser132 to the compressor 131.

The beverage maker may include a beverage extraction pressurizing device15 that injects air between the beverage ingredient pack 12 and thefermentation tank assembly 11. In a state in which the beverageingredient pack 12 is accommodated in the fermentation tank assembly 11,the beverage extraction pressurizing device 15 may inject air betweenthe beverage ingredient pack 12 and the fermentation tank assembly 11,and the air injected into the fermentation tank assembly 11 maypressurize the beverage ingredient pack 12. The beverage in the beverageingredient pack 12 may be pressurized by the air, and flow in the mainflow path 2 by passing through the main flow path connecting part 115.The beverage flowing in the main flow path 2 from the beverageingredient pack 12 may be extracted to the outside through the beverageextractor 6.

That is, in the beverage maker, if the beverage is completely brewed,the beverage in the beverage ingredient pack 12 may be extracted throughthe beverage extractor 6 in a state in which the beverage ingredientpack 12 is not taken out of the fermentation tank assembly 11 butlocated in the fermentation tank assembly 11.

The beverage extraction pressurizing device 15 may include an air pump152 that pumps air and an air supply flow path 154 that connects the airpump 152 and the inside of the fermentation tank assembly 11. Thebeverage extraction pressurizing device 15 may further include an aircontrol valve 156 installed in the air supply flow path 154. Thebeverage extraction pressurizing device 15 may further include an airrelief valve 158 provided to the air supply flow path 154. The airrelief valve 158 may be installed posterior to the air control valve 156in an air supply direction in the air supply flow path 154.

The air control valve 156 may be opened only when the beverage isextracted to allow air to be introduced into the fermentation tankassembly 11, and maintain a closed state while the beverage is not beingextracted.

The beverage maker may further include a temperature sensor 16 thatmeasures a temperature of the fermentation tank assembly 11. Thetemperature sensor 16 may be installed to measure a temperature of thefermentation tank 112.

Hereinafter, the ingredient supplier 3 (or simply, supplier 3) will bedescribed as follows.

The supplier 3 may be connected to a water supply heater 53 through thewater supply flow path 4, and be connected to the fermentation tankassembly 11 through the main flow path 2.

The supplier 3 may accommodate materials required to brew the beveragetherein, and be configured to allow water supplied from the water supplymodule 5 to pass therethrough. For example, in the case of beer, thematerials accommodated in the supplier 3 may be yeast, hops, fragranceadditives, and the like.

The materials accommodated in the supplier 3 may be directlyaccommodated in a material accommodation part formed in the supplier 3.At least one material accommodation part may be formed in the supplier3. A plurality of material accommodation parts may be formed in thesupplier 3. In this case, the plurality of material accommodation partsmay be formed to be divided from one another.

Meanwhile, the materials accommodated in the supplier 3 may beaccommodated in an ingredient package (e.g., a capsule), and at leastone ingredient package accommodation part in which the ingredientpackage is accommodated may be formed in the supplier 3. When thematerials in the ingredient package are accommodated in the form of acapsule, the supplier 3 may be configured such that the capsule ismountable and extractable. The supplier 3 may be configured as a capsulekit assembly in which the capsule is separably accommodated.

Each of the main flow path 2 and the water supply flow path 4 may beconnected to the supplier 3. The water supplied through the water supplyflow path 4 may be mixed with the materials by passing through thematerial accommodation part or the capsule. The materials accommodatedin the material accommodation part or the capsule may flow in the mainflow path 2 together with the water.

A plurality of different kinds of additives may be separated from oneanother to be accommodated in the supplier 3. The plurality of additivesaccommodated in the supplier 3 may be yeast, hops, and fragranceadditives, and be separated from one another to be accommodated in thesupplier 3.

When a plurality of material accommodation parts are formed in theingredient supplier 3, each of the plurality of material accommodationparts may be connected to the water supply flow path through aningredient supplier entrance flow path, and be connected to the mainflow path 2 through an ingredient supplier exit flow path.

When a plurality of capsule accommodation parts are formed in thesupplier 3, each of the plurality of capsule accommodation parts may beconnected to the water supply flow path 4 through the supplier entranceflow path, and be connected to the main flow path 2 through the supplierexit flow path.

The material accommodation part of the supplier 3 and the capsuleaccommodation part of the supplier 3 may be the substantially samecomponent. When the capsule is inserted into the supplier 3 in a statein which the materials are accommodated in the capsule, the componentmay be referred to as the capsule accommodation part. When the materialsare directly accommodated in the supplier 3 in a state in which thematerials are not contained in the capsule, the component may bereferred to as the material accommodation part. Since the materialaccommodation part and the capsule accommodation part may be thesubstantially same component, it will be described below that, forconvenience of description, the capsule accommodation part is formed inthe supplier 3.

The capsule accommodation part in which a capsule containing additivesis attachably/detachably accommodated may be formed in the supplier 3.The supplier 3 may be connected to the water supply flow path 4 throughthe supplier entrance flow path, and be connected to the main flow path2 through the supplier exit flow path.

An opening/closing valve that opens/closes the supplier entrance flowpath may be installed in the supplier entrance flow path.

A check valve that blocks a fluid of the main flow path 2 from flowingbackward to the capsule accommodation part may be installed in thesupplier exit flow path.

A plurality of capsule accommodation parts 31, 32, and 33 may be formedin the supplier 3. The plurality of capsule accommodation parts 31, 32,and 33 may be formed to be divided from one another. The plurality ofcapsule accommodation parts 31, 32, and 33 may be connected to supplierentrance flow paths and supplier exit flow paths, respectively.

Hereinafter, a first additive, a second additive, and a third additivemay be accommodated in the supplier 3. The first additive may be yeast,the second additive may be hop, and the third additive may be afragrance additive.

The supplier 3 may include a first capsule accommodation part 31 inwhich a first capsule Cl containing the first additive is accommodated,a second capsule accommodation part 32 in which a second capsule C2containing the second additive is accommodated, and a third capsuleaccommodation part 33 in which a third capsule C3 containing the thirdadditive is accommodated.

As an example, a first supplier entrance flow path 311 that guides wateror air to the first capsule accommodation part 31 may be connected tothe first capsule accommodation part 31, and a first supplier exit flowpath 312 through which water discharged from the first capsuleaccommodation part 31, a mixture of the water and the first additive,and air are guided may be connected to the first capsule accommodationpart 31. A first opening/closing valve 313 that opens/closes the firstsupplier entrance flow path 311 may be installed in the first supplierentrance flow path 311. A first check valve 314 that blocks the fluid ofthe main flow path 2 from flowing backward to the first capsuleaccommodation part 31 while allowing a fluid of the first capsuleaccommodation part 31 to flow in the main flow path 2 may be installedin the first supplier exit flow path 312. Here, the fluid may includethe water discharged from the first capsule accommodation part 31, themixture of the water and the first additive, and the air.

A second supplier entrance flow path 321 that guides water or air to thesecond capsule accommodation part 32 may be connected to the secondcapsule accommodation part 32, and a second supplier exit flow path 322through which water discharged from the second capsule accommodationpart 32, a mixture of the water and the second additive, and air areguided may be connected to the second capsule accommodation part 32. Asecond opening/closing valve 323 that opens/closes the second supplierentrance flow path 321 may be installed in the second supplier entranceflow path 321. A second check valve 324 that blocks the fluid of themain flow path 2 from flowing backward to the second capsuleaccommodation part 32 while allowing a fluid of the second capsuleaccommodation part 32 to flow in the main flow path 2 may be installedin the second supplier exit flow path 322. Here, the fluid may includethe water discharged from the second capsule accommodation part 32, themixture of the water and the second additive, and the air.

A third supplier entrance flow path 331 that guides water or air to thethird capsule accommodation part 33 may be connected to the thirdcapsule accommodation part 33, and a third supplier exit flow path 332through which water discharged from the third capsule accommodation part33, a mixture of the water and the third additive, and air are guidedmay be connected to the third capsule accommodation part 33. A thirdopening/closing valve 323 that opens/closes the third supplier entranceflow path 331 may be installed in the third supplier entrance flow path331. A third check valve 334 that blocks the fluid of the main flow path2 from flowing backward to the third capsule accommodation part 33 whileallowing a fluid of the third capsule accommodation part 33 to flow inthe main flow path 2 may be installed in the third supplier exit flowpath 332. Here, the fluid may include the water discharged from thethird capsule accommodation part 33, the mixture of the water and thethird additive, and the air.

The beverage maker may include a bypass flow path 34 that enables thewater supplied from the water flow path 4 to be supplied to the mainflow path 2 by bypassing the capsule accommodation parts 31, 32, and 33.

The bypass flow path 34 may be connected to the water supply flow path 4and the main flow path 2, and water or air of the water flow path 4 maybe guided to the bypass flow path 34 to flow in the main flow path 2 bybypassing the capsule accommodation parts 31, 32, and 33.

The bypass flow path 34 may be connected in parallel to flow paths ofthe first capsule accommodation part 31, the second capsuleaccommodation part 32, and the third capsule accommodation part 33.

A bypass valve 35 that opens/closes the bypass flow path 34 may beinstalled in the bypass flow path 34.

The beverage maker may include a main supply flow path that guides thewater, the materials of the beverage, or the air to the fermentationtank assembly 11 therethrough.

When the beverage maker includes both of the supplier 3 and the watersupply module 5, the main supply flow path may include all of the mainflow path 2, the bypass flow path 34, and the water supply flow path 4.In this case, the main supply flow path may supply all of the water, theair, and the materials of the beverage to the fermentation tank assembly11.

The beverage maker includes the supplier 3, but may not include thewater supply module 5. In this case, the main supply flow path mayinclude all of the main flow path 2, the bypass flow path 34, and thewater supply flow path 4. The water supply flow path 4 may be directlyconnected to a water faucet or include a water supply tube that isconnected to the water faucet through a separate connection hose to besupplied with external water. The water supply tube may be supplied withexternal water to supply the external water to the bypass flow path 34or the supplier 3. That is, the main supply flow path may supply all ofthe water, the air, and the materials of the beverage to thefermentation tank assembly 11 therethrough.

The beverage maker includes the water supply module 5, but may notinclude the supplier 3. In this case, the main supply flow path mayinclude the main flow path 2, and the main flow path 2 may be directlyconnected to the water supply module 5. In addition, an air injectionflow path 81 of an air injector 8 may be connected to the main flow path2.

When the beverage maker includes the water supply module 5 but does notinclude the supplier 3, the main supply flow path does not require aseparate water supply flow path 4 or bypass flow path 34 that connectsthe water supply module 5 and the supplier 3, and the main flow path 2may be directly supplied from the water supply module 5. In addition,the air injection flow path 81 of the air injector 8 may be connected toa portion located between the water supply module 5 and a main valve 9in the main flow path 2.

When the beverage maker includes the water supply module 5 but does notinclude the supplier 3, water of the water supply module 5 may besupplied to the fermentation tank assembly 11 through the main flow path2, and air of the air injector 8 may be supplied to the fermentationtank assembly 11 through the main flow path 2. That is, the main flowpath may supply water and air to the fermentation tank assembly 11.

The beverage maker may not include both of the supplier 3 and the watersupply module 5. In this case, the main supply flow path may include themain flow path 2, and the main flow path 2 may be directly connected toa water faucet or include a water supply tube that is connected to thewater faucet through a separate connection hose to be supplied withexternal water. The water supply tube may be supplied with externalwater to supply the external water to the fermentation tank assembly 11.

When the beverage maker does not include both of the supplier 3 and thewater supply module 5, the main supply flow path does not require aseparate water supply flow path 4 or bypass flow path 34 that connectsthe water supply module 5 and the supplier 3, and the main flow path 2may be directly supplied from the water supply module 5. In this case,the air injection flow path 81 of the air injector 8 may be connected tothe main flow path 2, and be connected prior to the main valve 9 in themain flow path 2. That is, the main supply flow path may supply waterand air to the fermentation tank assembly 11.

Hereinafter, the case where the beverage maker includes all of the mainflow path 2, the water supply flow path 4, and the bypass flow path 34will be described as an example.

The main flow path 2 may be connected to the first supplier exit flowpath 312, the second supplier exit flow path 322, the third supplierexit flow path 332, and the bypass flow path 34. The main flow path 2may include a common tube connected to the fermentation tank assembly 11and a combination tube connected to the first supplier exit flow path312, the second supplier exit flow path 322, the third supplier exitflow path 332, the bypass flow path 34 and the common tube.

The main flow path 2 may be connected to the fermentation tank assembly11, and be connected to the fermentation tank cover 114 in thefermentation tank assembly 11.

The water supply flow path 4 may be connected to the first supplierentrance flow path 311, the second supplier entrance flow path 321, thethird supplier entrance flow path 331, and the bypass flow path 34.

The water supply flow path 4 may include a common tube connected to thewater supply module 5, and a plurality of branch tubes branching offfrom the common tube, the plurality of branch tubes being connected tothe first supplier entrance flow path 311, the second supplier entranceflow path 321, the third supplier entrance flow path 331, and the bypassflow path 34.

The water supply module 5 may include a water tank 51 containing water,a water supply pump 52 that pumps the water of the water tank 51, andthe water supply heater 53 that heats the water pumped by the watersupply pump 52.

A water tank outlet flow path 54 may be connected to the water tank 51,and the water supply pump 52 may be connected to the water tank outletflow path 54.

A water supply pump outlet flow path 55 may be connected to the watersupply pump 52, and the water supply heater 53 may be connected to thewater supply pump outlet flow path 55.

A flow meter 56 that measures a flow rate of the water supply pumpoutlet flow path 55 may be installed in the water supply pump outletflow path 55.

The water supply heater 53 may be a mold heater, and include a heatercase through which the water pumped by the water supply pump 52 passes,and a heater installed in the heater case to heat water introduced intothe heater case. A thermistor 57 that measures a temperature of thewater supply heater 53 may be installed in the water supply heater 53.In addition, a thermal fuse 58 that cuts off current applied to thewater supply heater 53 as a circuit is interrupted when the temperatureof the water supply heater 53 is high.

When the water supply pump 52 is driven, water of the water tank 51 maybe guided to the water supply heater 53 through the water tank outletflow path 54, the water supply pump 52, and the water supply pump outletflow path 55. The water guided to the water heater 53 may be heated bythe water supply heater 53 and then guided to the water supply flow path4.

The beverage extractor 6 may be connected to the main flow path 2. Thebeverage extractor 6 may include a beverage extraction flow path 61connected to the main flow path 2, the beverage extraction flow path 61allowing the beverage of the main flow path 2 to be guided therethrough.The beverage extractor 6 may further include a beverage extraction valve62 connected to the beverage extraction flow path 61.

An anti-foaming path 63 may be provided in the beverage extraction flowpath 61, and foam of the beverage flowing from the main flow path 2 tothe beverage extraction flow path 61 may be minimized by passing throughthe anti-foaming path 63. A mesh, etc., through which foam is filtered,may be provided in the anti-foaming path 63.

The beverage extraction valve 62 may include a lever manipulated by theuser and a tap valve having a micro switch that detects a manipulationof the user.

Meanwhile, the beverage maker may further include a gas discharger thatdischarges gas in the fermentation module 1 to the outside.

The gas discharger 7 may include a gas extraction flow path 71 connectedto the fermentation module 1 and a pressure sensor 72 installed in thegas extraction flow path 71. The gas discharger 7 may further include agas extraction valve 73 that opens/closes the gas extraction flow path71. The gas discharger 7 may further include an air filter 74 throughwhich gas passing through the gas extraction valve 73 passes.

The gas extraction flow path 71 may be connected to the fermentationtank assembly 11, particularly, the fermentation tank cover 114.

The gas extraction valve 73 may be turned on when air is injected intothe beverage ingredient pack 12, to be opened. The beverage maker mayallow malt and water to be uniformly mixed together by injecting airinto the beverage ingredient pack 12. As such, in the case of beermaking, bubbles generated from the liquid malt may be discharged to theoutside at an upper portion of the beer brewing pack 12 through the gasextraction flow path 71 and the gas extraction valve 73.

The gas extraction valve 73 may be opened to detect a fermentationdegree during a fermentation process. The gas in the beverage brewingpack 12 may flow in the pressure sensor 72. The pressure sensor 72 maysense a pressure of the gas discharged from the beverage brewing pack12.

The pressure sensor 72, the gas extraction valve 73, and the air filter74 may be sequentially disposed in a gas discharge direction in the gasextraction flow path 71.

The gas discharger 7 may further include a gas discharge relief valve 75provided in the gas extraction flow path 71. The gas discharge reliefvalve 75 may be installed prior to the pressure sensor 72 in the gasdischarge direction.

The beverage maker may further include the air injector 8 connected toat least one of the main flow path 2 or the water supply flow path 4 toinject air into the beverage-making apparatus.

When the air injector 8 is connected to the water supply flow path 4,air may be injected into the ingredient supplier 3 through the watersupply flow path 4. The air injected into the water supply flow path 4may sequentially pass through the supplier 3 and the main flow path 2and then be injected into the beverage brewing pack 12. When the airinjector 8 is connected to the water supply flow path 4, air may beinjected into the beverage brewing pack 12 through the water supply flowpath 4, the bypass flow path 34, and the main flow path 2. The airinjector 8 may supply the air to materials in the beverage brewing pack12.

When the air injector 8 is connected to the water supply flow path 4,air may be injected into the capsule accommodation parts 31, 32, and 33through the water supply flow path 4, remaining water or sludge in thecapsules C1, C2, and C3 and the capsule accommodation parts 31, 32, and32 may flow in the main flow path 2, and the capsules C1, C2, and C3 andthe capsule accommodation parts 31, 32, and 32 may be cleanlymaintained.

The air injector 8 may include the air injection flow path 81 connectedto the water supply flow path 4 and an air injection pump 82 that pumpsair to the air injection flow path 81.

The air injector 8 may further include a check valve 83 that blocks thewater of the water supply flow path 4 from being introduced into the airinjection pump 82 through the air injection flow path 81. The checkvalve 83 may be installed posterior to the air injection pump 82 in anair injection direction.

The air injector 8 may further include an air filter 84 connected to theair injection flow path 81, the air filter 84 being installed prior tothe air injection pump 82 in the air injection direction.

When the air injection pump 82 is operated, dust, etc. in air may befiltered by the air filter 84, and the air passing through the airfilter 84 may be flowed by the air injection pump 82 to flow in thewater supply flow path 4.

The beverage maker may further include the main valve 9 thatopens/closes the main flow path 2.

The main valve 9 may be installed, in the main flow path 2, between aconnection part 91 of the main flow path 2 and the beverage extractionflow path 61 and a connection part 92 of the main flow path 2 and thefermentation tank assembly 11.

The main valve 9 may opened when hot water is injected into the beverageingredient pack 12, to open the main flow path 2. The main valve 9 maybe closed while the fermentation tank assembly 11 is cooled, to closethe main flow path 2. The main valve 9 may be opened when air isinjected into the beverage ingredient pack 12, to open the main flowpath 2. The main valve 9 may be opened when an additive is supplied tothe inside of the beverage ingredient pack 12, to open the main flowpath 2. The main valve 9 may be closed while materials are beingfermented, to close the inside of the beverage ingredient pack 12. Themain valve 9 may be closed when the beverage is ripened and kept, toclose the inside of the beverage ingredient pack 12. The main valve 9may be opened when the beverage is extracted from the beverage extractor6, to open the main flow path 2.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the beverage maker according to someimplementations. FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating an inside ofthe beverage maker according to some implementations. FIG. 4 is a frontview illustrating an inside of the beverage maker according to someimplementations.

The beverage maker may further include a base 100. The base 100 may forma bottom appearance of the beverage maker, and support the fermentationtank assembly 11, the compressor 131, the water supply heater 53, thewater supply pump 52, the water tank 51, and the like, which are locatedat the top side thereof.

The beverage maker may further include a beverage container 101configured to receive and keep beverage dropping from the beverageextraction valve 62. The beverage container 101 may be integrally formedwith the base 100 or be coupled to the base 100.

The beverage container 101 may include a container body 101A having aspace in which the beverage dropping from the beverage extraction valve62 is accommodated. The beverage container 101 may include a containertop plate 101B disposed at the top surface of the container body 101A tocover the space in the container body 101A.

The container body 101A may be formed to protrude forward at a frontportion of the base 100. The top surface of the container body 101A maybe opened.

Holes 101C through which the beverage drops into the container body 101Amay be formed in the container top plate 101B.

Beverage dropping around a beverage container in the beverage droppingfrom the beverage extraction valve 62 may drop to the container topplate 101B, and be temporarily kept inside the beverage container 101through the holes 101C of the container top plate 101B. Thus,surroundings of the beverage maker can be cleanly maintained.

The fermentation tank 112, as shown in FIG. 4, may include a lowerfermentation tank 112A of which top surface is opened, the lowerfermentation tank 112A having a space formed therein, and an upperfermentation tank 112B disposed at the top of the lower fermentationtank 112A, the upper fermentation tank 112B having the opening 111formed in the top surface thereof.

A seat part 116 on which the beverage ingredient pack 12 is mounted maybe provided in the fermentation tank 112. The seat part 116 may beprovided to protrude from the opening 111, and a circumferential part ofthe beverage ingredient pack 12 may be mounted on the seat part 116.

The beverage maker may include the heat insulating wall 102 surroundingboth of the fermentation tank 112 and the evaporator 134.

The heat insulating wall 102 may be formed of polystyrene foam or thelike, which has high heat insulation performance and can absorbvibration.

A heat insulating wall opening 103 may be formed at an upper portion ofthe heat insulating wall 102, and the heat insulating space S2 may beformed inside the heat insulating wall 102.

The heat insulating wall 102 may be configured as an assembly of aplurality of members. The heat insulating wall 102 may include a lowerheat insulating wall 102A of which top surface is opened, the lower heatinsulating wall 102A having a space formed therein, and an upper heatinsulating wall 102B disposed at the top of the lower heat insulatingwall 102A, the upper heat insulating wall 102B having the heatinsulating wall opening 103 formed in the top surface thereof.

The heat insulating wall 102 having the lower heat insulating wall 102Aand the upper heat insulating wall 102B may surround the circumferentialand bottom surfaces of the fermentation tank 112.

The heat insulating wall opening 103 of the heat insulating wall 102 maysurround an upper portion of the fermentation tank 112. The heatinsulating wall opening 103 of the heat insulating wall 102 may surroundthe outer surface of a portion at which the heat insulating wall opening103 is formed in the fermentation tank 112.

An inner surface 102C of the heat insulating wall 102 may have a largerdiameter than an outer surface 112C of the fermentation tank 112, and agap may be formed between the inner surface 102C of the heat insulatingwall 102 and the outer surface 112C of the fermentation tank 112. Airmay be filled in the gap, and the air between the inner surface 102C ofthe heat insulating wall 102 and the outer surface 112C of thefermentation tank 112 may heat-insulate the fermentation tank 112. Thegap between the inner surface 102C of the heat insulating wall 102 andthe outer surface 112C of the fermentation tank 112 may be a space inwhich the evaporator 134 is accommodated, and simultaneously be a spacethat can minimize a change in temperature of the fermentation tank 112.

The fermentation tank 112 may be mounted on a top surface 102E of abottom plate part 102D of the heat insulating wall 102, and be supportedby the top surface 102E of the bottom plate part 102D of the heatinsulating wall 102.

A bottom surface 102F of the bottom plate part 102D of the heatinsulating wall 102 may be placed on a heat insulating wall supporter100A formed on the top surface of the base 100.

An air supply flow path through-hole 102G through which the air supplyflow path 154 passes may be formed in the bottom plate part 102D of theheat insulating wall 102. The air supply flow path through-hole 102G mayform at least part of a channel that is communicative with a space thatis formed in the interior of the container body between a wall of thecontainer body and the beverage ingredient pack 12 mounted inside thecontainer body. Air that is supplied through this channel may exertpressure on the flexible beverage ingredient pack 12, causing themanufactured beverage to be extracted. At least a portion of the airsupply flow path 154 may be formed through the heat insulating wall 102,and be connected to the fermentation tank 112.

Meanwhile, the evaporator 134 may be an evaporating tube wound aroundthe outer surface of the fermentation tank 112 to be located in the gap.The evaporator 134 may be in contact with each of the outer surface 112Cof the fermentation tank 112 and the inner surface 102C of the heatinsulating wall 102. The evaporator 134 may be supported by the heatinsulating wall 102.

The evaporator 134 may include an extending tube extending to theoutside of the heat insulating wall 102 by passing through anevaporating tube through-hole formed in the heat insulating wall 102.

The beverage maker may include a heat insulating wall cover 104 and 105surrounding the circumferential and top surfaces of the heat insulatingwall 102.

The heat insulating wall cover 104 and 105 may be configured as onecover, and be configured as an assembly of a plurality of covers.

The heat insulating wall cover 104 and 105 may include a lower heatinsulating wall cover 104 of which bottom surface is opened, the lowerheat insulating wall cover 104 surrounding the outer circumferentialsurface of the heat insulating wall 102, and an upper heat insulatingwall cover 105 disposed at the top of the lower heat insulating wallcover 104, the upper heat insulating wall cover 105 covering the topsurface of the heat insulating wall 102.

A lower portion of the lower heat insulating wall cover 104 may beplaced on the base 100.

A lower portion of the upper heat insulating wall cover 105 may beplaced on the top end of the lower heat insulating wall cover 104.

The heat insulating wall cover 104 and 105 may protect the heatinsulating wall 102, and form a portion of the appearance of thebeverage maker.

The heat insulating wall cover 104 and 105 may surround the entirecircumferential surface of the heat insulating wall 102, and surroundonly a portion of the circumferential surface of the heat insulatingwall 102.

A side opening may be formed in a surface of the heat insulating wallcover 104 and 105, which faces the water tank 51. The extending tube ofthe evaporator 134 may be disposed to pass through the side opening. Theextending tube of the evaporator 134 may extend to an accommodationspace S5 shown in FIG. 4, which will be described later, by passingthrough the side opening of the heat insulating wall cover 104 and 105.

Meanwhile, the water tank 51 may be spaced apart from the base 100 atthe top side of the base 100. The water tank 51 may be spaced apart fromthe base 100 in the vertical direction.

A space S3 in which at least one of the compressor 131, the water supplyheater 53, and the water supply pump 52 is to be accommodated may beformed between the water tank 51 and the base 100. In addition, thewater tank 51 may be spaced apart from the heat insulating wall 102 inthe horizontal direction.

The beverage maker may include a water tank supporter 106 supporting thewater tank 51 to be spaced apart from the base 100. The water tanksupporter 106 may be disposed at the base 100, and support the watertank 51 to be spaced apart from the base 100 at the top side of the base100. The bottom end of water tank supporter 106 may be placed on thebase 100, and the water tank 51 may be placed at an upper portion of thewater tank supporter 106.

The water tank supporter 106 may be configured such that a plurality ofsupporter members are coupled in a hollow cylindrical shape. A sideopening may be formed in a surface of the water tank supporter 106,which faces the heat insulating wall 102.

The water tank 51 may include an outer water tank 58, and an inner watertank 59 accommodated in the outer water tank 58, the inner water tank 59in which a space S4 having water accommodated therein is formed.

The outer water tank 58 may be placed at an upper portion of the watertank supporter 106, and the bottom surface of the outer water tank 58may be spaced apart from the top surface of the base 100. The space S3in which at least one of the compressor 131, the water supply heater 53,and the water supply pump 52 is to be accommodated may be formed betweenthe outer water tank 58 and the base 100.

The outer water tank 58 may have a vessel shape of which top surface isopened, and protect the inner water tank 59 by surrounding the outercircumferential and bottom surfaces of the inner water tank 59 locatedtherein.

The inner water tank 59 may be inserted into the outer water tank 58,and be supported by the outer water tank 58.

The beverage maker may further include a water tank protector 107disposed at the top side of the outer water tank 58 to surround an upperouter circumferential surface of the inner water tank 59. The water tankprotector 107 may be disposed to surround the entire or a portion of theupper outer circumferential surface of the inner water tank 59. Thewater tank protector 107 may be configured such that a plurality ofprotector members are coupled in a ring shape.

The beverage maker may further include a water tank lid 108 coupled tothe water tank 51 or the water tank protector 107 to cover the topsurface of the water tank 51. One side of the water tank lid 108 may berotatably connected to the water tank 51 or the water tank protector107. The water tank lid 108 may be separably mounted on the top surfaceof the water tank 51 or the water tank protector 107.

Meanwhile, at least one of the compressor 131, the water supply heater53, and the water supply pump 52 may be disposed between the base 100and the water tank 51.

The condenser 132 may be disposed to face at least one of the spacebetween the heat insulating wall 102 and the water tank 51, and the heatinsulating wall 102.

The supplier 3 may be disposed between the fermentation tank cover 114and the water tank 51. In this case, the beverage maker may be compactlymanufactured as compared with when the supplier 3 is located at aposition except the space between the fermentation tank cover 114 andthe water tank 51, and the supplier 3 may be protected by thefermentation tank cover 114 and the water tank 51.

As shown in FIG. 4, one side of the supplier 3 may be mounted on theouter water tank 58, and the other side of the supplier 3 may be mountedon the heat insulating wall cover 104 and 105. The supplier 3 may bevertically spaced apart from the base 100 at the top side of the base100.

The supplier 3 may include a capsule accommodation body 36 having thecapsule accommodation part in which the capsules C1, C2, and C3 shown inFIG. 1 are attachably/detachably accommodated, and a lid module 37covering the capsule accommodation part.

One side plate facing the water tank 51 among left and right side platesof the capsule accommodation body 36 may be mounted on a mounting partformed in the outer water tank 58 to be supported by the outer watertank 58.

The other side plate facing the fermentation tank cover 114 among theleft and right side plates of the capsule accommodation body 36 may bemounted on the heat insulating wall cover 104 and 105, and be supportedby the heat insulating wall cover 104 and 105.

The lid module 37 may include a lid 38 covering the capsuleaccommodation body 36. The lid 38 may be slidingly disposed at thecapsule accommodation body 36 or be rotatably connected to the capsuleaccommodation body 36. The lid 38 may be hinge-connected to the capsuleaccommodation body 36.

The supplier 3 may be installed to be located at an approximatelycentral upper portion of the beverage maker, and the user may easilymount or separate the capsules C1, C2, and C3 by upwardly rotating thelid module 37 of the supplier 3.

The accommodation space S5 in which a plurality of parts are to beaccommodated may be formed in the beverage maker. Here, theaccommodation space S5 may be a space that becomes a space between theheat insulating wall 102 and the water tank 51 in the left-rightdirection and becomes a space between the supplier 3 and the base 100 inthe top-bottom direction.

In the beverage maker, a plurality of parts are preferably accommodatedin the accommodation space S5. In this case, the beverage maker maybecome compact. The plurality of parts accommodated in the accommodationspace S5 may be protected by being surrounded by the heat insulatingwall 102, the water tank 51, the base 100, the supplier 3, the condenser132, and a center cover 66 which will be described later.

The opening/closing valves 313, 323, and 333 installed in the supplierentrance flow paths 311, 321, and 331 shown in FIG. 1 to open/close thesupplier entrance flow paths 311, 321, and 331, as shown in FIG. 4, maybe located under the capsule accommodation body 36.

The opening/closing valves 313, 323, and 333 may be installed in abracket 64 (see FIG. 3) disposed at the base 100.

The bracket 64 may be disposed to be located at a side of the heatinsulating wall 102, and the opening/closing valves 313, 323, and 333may be installed to be located between the heat insulating wall 102 andthe water tank 51 by the bracket 64. The opening/closing valves 313,323, and 333 may be located between the heat insulating wall 102 and thewater tank 51 in the left-right direction, and be located between thebase 100 and the supplier 3 in the top-bottom direction.

The beverage maker may further include the center cover 66 covering thefront of the opening/closing valves 313, 323, and 333.

The center cover 66, as shown in FIG. 2, may be disposed to coverbetween the heat insulating wall cover 104 and the water tank supporter106 in the left-right direction and cover between the supplier 3 and thebase 100 in the top-bottom direction. The rear surface of the centercover 66 may face the condenser 132 in the front-rear direction, andprotect a plurality of parts.

In addition, a front portion of the supplier 3 may be placed on the topend of the center cover 66, and the supplier 3 may be supported by thecenter cover 66.

Meanwhile, the beverage extraction valve 62 may be mounted to the centercover 66. The beverage extraction valve 62 may be mounted to protrudeforward from the center cover 66. The beverage extraction valve 62 maybe mounted to the center cover 66 to be located at the top side of thebeverage container 101.

The beverage maker may include a controller 109 that controls thebeverage maker.

The controller 109 may include a main PCB 109C.

The controller 109 may include a wireless communication element thatperforms wireless communication with a wireless communication devicesuch as a remote controller or a portable terminal. The wirelesscommunication element, such as a Wi-Fi module or a Bluetooth module, isnot limited to its kind as long as it can perform wireless communicationwith a remote controller or a wireless communication device. Thewireless communication element may be mounted on the main PCB 109C or adisplay PCB which will be described later.

The controller 109 may include an input unit that receives a commandrelated to the manufacturing of the beverage maker. The input unit mayinclude a rotary knob 109A and a rotary switch 109B switched by therotary knob 109A. A knob hole 106A through which the rotary knob 109Arotatably passes may be formed at one side of the water tank supporter106. The rotary knob 109A may be disposed such that at least one portionof the rotary knob 109A is exposed to the outside. The rotary switch109B may be mounted on the main PCB 109C. The input unit may include atouch screen that receives a command of the user in a touch scheme. Thetouch screen may be provided in a display 109D which will be describedlater. The user may input a command through the remote controller or thewireless communication device, and the controller 109 may receive thecommand of the user through the wireless communication element.

The controller 109 may include the display 109D that displays variousinformation of the beverage maker. The display 109D may include adisplay element such as LCD, LED, or OLED. The display 109D may includethe display PCB on which the display element is mounted. The display PCBmay be mounted on the main PCB 109C or be connected to the main PCB 109Cthrough a separate connector.

The display 109D may display information input by the input unit.

The display 109D may display information of the beverage brewing pack 12and information on a fermentation time of beverage materials, a beveragecompletion time, or the like. The fermentation time of the beveragematerials or the beverage completion time may be changed depending onkinds of the beverage materials contained in the beverage brewing pack12. If beverage brewing pack 12 approaches the fermentation tankassembly 11, the controller 109 may acquire information from thebeverage brewing pack 12 through a communication module such as NFC.

In some implementations, a compact chip 109E (see FIG. 14) in whichvarious information related to the beverage materials may be attached inthe shape of a sticker, etc. to the beverage brewing pack 12, and thechip 109E and an NFC tag 109F (see FIG. 14) that transmits/receives datamay be installed in the beverage maker. In such implementations, the NFCtag 109F may be mounted on the fermentation tank assembly 11, the mainPCB 109C, or the display PCB. When the NFC tag 109F is mounted on thefermentation tank assembly 11, the NFC tag 109F may be mounted on theopening 111 of the fermentation tank 112 or the fermentation tank cover114. The NFC tag 109F may be connected to the controller 109 through adata line.

If the beverage brewing pack 12 is accommodated in the fermentation tankassembly 11, the controller 109 may acquire information of the beveragebrewing pack 12 from a chip provided in the beverage brewing pack 12.

The controller 109 may transmit the information acquired from the NFCtag 109F to the display 109D or the wireless communication device, andthe display 109D or the wireless communication device may display kindsof beverage materials, a total fermentation time, a beverage completiontime, or the like.

The display 109D may display various information related to brewing ofbeverage while the beverage is being brewed. The controller 109 may beconnected to the temperature sensor 16. The controller 109 may transmitinformation on a temperature sensed by the temperature sensor 16 to thedisplay 109D or the wireless communication device, and the display 109Dor the communication device may display the temperature sensed by thetemperature sensor 16 through a numerical value, a graph, or the like.

The display 109D may display a completion degree of the beverage, anamount of carbonic acid contained in the beverage, or the like through anumerical value, a graph, or the like while the beverage is beingbrewed.

The display 109D may differently display a completion degree of thebeverage in primary fermentation and a completion degree of the beveragein secondary fermentation. The amount of carbonic acid in the beverageof the beverage brewing pack 12 may be gradually increased as timeelapses. The controller 109 may detect a pressure in the beveragebrewing pack 12 through the pressure sensor 72, and detect a temperatureof the fermentation tank assembly 11 through the temperature sensor 16.The controller 109 may calculate an amount of carbonic acid using thedetected pressure and temperature according to a preset equation ortable. The controller 109 may transmit information on the calculatedamount of carbonic acid to the display 109D or the wirelesscommunication device, and at least one of the display 109D and thewireless communication device may display the calculated amount ofcarbonic acid.

The display 109D may display a remaining amount of the beverage afterthe beverage is completely brewed.

If the secondary fermentation which will be described later is ended,the controller 109 may determine that the beverage has been completelybrewed.

The controller 109 may determine a total amount of time that includes,for example, a sum of one or more of the following: a time at which amicro switch 630 is turned on, a time at which the air pump 152 isdriven, and a time at which the main valve 9 is on after the beverage iscompletely brewed. The controller 109 may calculate an extraction amountof the beverage according to the added-up time, and calculate aremaining amount of the beverage from the calculated extraction amount.The controller 109 may transmit information on the remaining amount ofthe beverage to the display 109D or the wireless communication device,and at least one of the display 109D and the wireless communicationdevice may display the remaining amount of the beverage.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the supplier of the beverage makeraccording to some implementations. FIG. 6 is a perspective viewillustrating an inside of the lid module shown in FIG. 5. FIG. 7 is aplan view illustrating an inside of the supplier of the beverage makeraccording to some implementations. FIG. 8 is a sectional view takenalong line A-A of FIG. 7. FIG. is a plan view of the capsuleaccommodation body of the beverage maker according to someimplementations. FIG. 10 is a bottom view of a locking mechanism for thecapsule accommodation body of the beverage maker according to someimplementations. FIG. 11 is a partially exploded perspective viewillustrating the supplier of the beverage maker according to someimplementations. FIG. 12 is a sectional view illustrating an inside ofthe supplier of the beverage maker according to some implementations.FIG. 13 is a sectional view when the plurality of capsule accommodationparts shown in FIG. 12 are opened.

A plurality of capsule accommodation parts 31, 32, and in which thecapsules C1, C2, and C3 containing beverage making materials areseparably accommodated may be formed in the capsule accommodation body36.

The plurality of capsule accommodation parts 31, 32, and 33 may bedisposed in a row in the capsule accommodation body 36. The plurality ofcapsule accommodation parts 31, 32, and 33 may be formed to be spacedapart from one another in the front-rear direction or the left-rightdirection. The beverage maker is preferably configured to be slim in theleft-right direction. The supplier 3 may be formed long in thefront-rear direction, and the plurality of capsule accommodation parts31, 32, and 33 may be formed to be spaced apart from one another in thefront-rear direction in the capsule accommodation body 36.

The capsule accommodation body 36 may be connected to the main flow path2 and the supplier exit flow paths 312, 322, and 332, which are shown inFIG. 1. The capsule accommodation body 36 may include lower guide parts312A, 322A, and 332A at which a mixture of water and materials isguided. The lower guide parts 312A, 322A, and 332A may be formed toprotrude downward of the capsule accommodation parts 31, 32, and 33.Extraction flow paths through the mixture of the water and the materialsis guided may be formed in the lower guide parts 312A, 322A, and 332A.The lower guide parts 312A, 322A, and 332A may become portions of thesupplier exit flow paths 312, 322, and 332 shown in FIG. 1. The checkvalves 314, 324, and 334 may be connected to the lower guide parts 312A,322A, and 332A.

The capsule accommodation body 36 may include capsule punching members31A, 32A, and 33A forming holes in the capsules C1, C2, and C3. Thecapsule punching members 31A, 32A, and 33A may be installed to protrudeat inner lower portions of the capsule accommodation parts 31, 32, and33. The capsule punching members 31A, 32A, and 33A may be installed atinner bottom surfaces of the capsule accommodation parts 31, 32, and 33.When the capsules C1, C2, and C3 are mounted, the capsules C1, C2, andC3 may be inserted into the capsule accommodation parts 31, 32, and 33at upper positions of the capsule accommodation parts 31, 32, and 33,and lower portions of the capsules C1, C2, and C3 may be in contact withthe capsule punching members 31A, 32A, and 33A located at the capsuleaccommodation parts 31, 32, and 33 to be cut out, and holes throughwhich the water and the materials are discharged together may be formedat the lower portions of the capsules C1, C2, and C3.

The capsule accommodation body 36 will be described in detail asfollows.

A first capsule punching member 31A forming a hole in the first capsuleCl may be installed at the first capsule accommodation part 31 in whichthe first capsule Cl is accommodated. A first lower guide part 312Ahaving an extraction flow path through which a mixture of water and amaterial is guided may be formed at a lower portion of the first capsuleaccommodation part 31. In addition, the first check valve 314 may beconnected to the first lower guide part 312A. The first lower guide part312A may constitute a portion of the first supplier exit flow path 312shown in FIG. 1.

A second capsule punching member 32A forming a hole in the secondcapsule C2 may be installed at the second capsule accommodation part 32in which the second capsule C2 is accommodated. A second lower guidepart 322A having an extraction flow path through which a mixture ofwater and a material is guided may be formed at a lower portion of thesecond capsule accommodation part 32. In addition, the second checkvalve 324 may be connected to the second lower guide part 322A. Thesecond lower guide part 322A may constitute a portion of the secondsupplier exit flow path 322 shown in FIG. 1.

A third capsule punching member 33A forming a hole in the third capsuleC3 may be installed at the third capsule accommodation part 33 in whichthe third capsule C3 is accommodated. A third lower guide part 332Ahaving an extraction flow path through which a mixture of water and amaterial is guided may be formed at a lower portion of the third capsuleaccommodation part 33. In addition, the third check valve 334 may beconnected to the third lower guide part 332A. The third lower guide part332A may constitute a portion of the third supplier exit flow path 332shown in FIG. 1.

The capsule accommodation body 36 may include a horizontal plate 361(see FIGS. 12 and 13). The capsule accommodation body 36 may furtherinclude a lower protection part 362 protruding downward from thehorizontal plate 361 to protect the plurality of capsule accommodationparts 31, 32, and 33. In some implementations, as shown in FIGS. 6 and7, the capsule accommodation body 36 may further include an upperprotection part 363 formed at the opposite side of a hinge formed byhinge 38A and hinge shaft connecting part 38B to face one surface of thelid module 37.

The plurality of capsule accommodation parts 31, 32, and 33 may beprovided to protrude in the lower direction from the horizontal plate361.

The lower protection part 362 may be formed to surround the front, rear,left and right of portions of the plurality of capsule accommodationparts 31, 32, and 33, which are located under the horizontal plate 361.

The upper protection part 363 may be formed to protrude in the upperdirection from the lower protection part 362. The upper protection part363 may protrude to have a height covering the entire surface of the lidmodule 37.

The plurality of capsule accommodation parts 31, 32, and 33 may beopened or closed together by the lid module 37. The sum of areas of theplurality of capsule accommodation parts 31, 32, and 33 may be smallerthan an area of the lid module 37.

The lid module 37 may open/close the plurality of capsule accommodationparts 31, 32, and 33 together. As shown in the examples of FIGS. 6 and7, the lid module 37 may be connected to the capsule accommodation body36 by the hinge formed by hinge shaft 38A and hinge shaft connectingpart 38B. A hinge shaft 38A may be formed at any one of the lid module37 and the capsule accommodation body 36. A hinge shaft connecting part38B rotatably supported by the hinge shaft 38A may be formed at theother of the lid module 37 and the capsule accommodation body 36. Thelid module 37 may be vertically rotated about the hinge shaft 38A. Thelid module 37 may be formed larger than the sum of the areas of theplurality of capsule accommodation parts 31, 32, and 33, and be rotatedabout the hinge shaft 38A to open or close all of the plurality ofcapsule accommodation parts 31, 32, and 33.

Meanwhile, the supplier 3 may include a lid module for each capsuleaccommodation part. That is, in the supplier 3, one lid module mayopen/close one capsule accommodation part. In this case, if threecapsule accommodation parts are formed in the supplier 3, three lidmodules capable of being rotated independently from one another may beconnected to the capsule accommodation body 36. However, if a pluralityof lid modules are installed in the capsule accommodation body 36, thenumber of parts of the supplier 3 increases, and an operation ofmounting or separating a plurality capsules may be cumbersome.

Meanwhile, when one lid module 37 opens/closes all of the plurality ofcapsule accommodation parts 31, 32, and 33, the number of parts of thesupplier 3 can be minimized, and the structure of the supplier 3 can besimplified. Further, the user can simply handle the supplier 3. The usercan open all of the plurality of capsule accommodation parts 31, 32, and33 through a simple operation of rotating the lid module 37 in the upperdirection. In addition, the user can simultaneously cover all of theplurality of capsule accommodation parts 31, 32, and 33 through a simpleoperation of rotating the lid module 37 in the lower direction.

The supplier 3 may be configured to allow water to be supplied throughthe lid module 37. The lid module 37 may include the lid 38 connected tothe capsule accommodation body 36 by the hinge shaft 38A and hinge shaftconnecting part 38B, and one or more water supply bodies 41, 42, and 43disposed at the lid 38. Meanwhile, the lid module 37 may further includeone or more locking mechanisms, which may be referred to as lockers. Inthe example of FIG. 5, lockers 48, 49, and 50 are rotatably disposed atthe lid 38, the one or more lockers 48, 49, and 50 being locked to orunlocked from the capsule accommodation body 36.

The one or more water supply bodies 41, 42, and 43 may be disposed atthe lid 38, and the one or more lockers 48, 49, and 50 may be rotatablydisposed at the lid 38. The lid 38 may be configured as an assembly of aplurality of members.

The lid 38 may include a lower lid 39 and an upper lid 40. One of thelower lid 39 and the upper lid 40 may be connected to the capsuleaccommodation body 36.

The lower lid 39 may be connected to the capsule accommodation body 36by the hinge shaft 38A and hinge shaft connecting part 38B, and theupper lid 40 may be coupled to the lower lid 39 to cover the top surfaceof the lower lid 39.

Lower through-holes 39A, 39B, and 39C through which lower portions ofthe lockers 48, 49, and 50 pass may be formed in the lower lid 39.Supporting walls 39D, 39E, and 39F surrounding at least portions of theouter surfaces of the lockers 48, 49, and 50 may be formed at the lowerlid 39.

The lower lid 39 may further include a pair of side walls 39G and 39H,and the supporting walls 39D, 39E, and 39F may be formed to be locatedbetween the pair of side walls 39G and 39H. A space in which portions ofthe supplier entrance flow paths 311, 321, and 331 shown in FIG. 1 canbe accommodated may be formed in the lower lid 39. The space of thelower lid 39, in which the portions of the supplier entrance flow paths311, 321, and 331 can be accommodated, may be formed between the pair ofside walls 39G and 39H.

When a plurality of lockers 48, 49, and 50 are provided at the lid 38, afirst lower through-hole 39A through which a lower portion of a firstlocker 48 passes may be formed in the lower lid 39, a second lowerthrough-hole 39B through which a lower portion of a second locker 49passes may be formed in the lower lid 39, and a third lower through-hole39C through which a lower portion of a third locker 50 passes may beformed in the lower lid 39. In addition, a first supporting wall 39Dsurrounding at least one portion of the outer surface of the firstlocker 48 may be formed at the lower lid 39, a second supporting wall39E surrounding at least one portion of the outer surface of the secondlocker 49 may be formed at the lower lid 39, and a third supporting wall39F surrounding at least one portion of the outer surface of the thirdlocker 50 may be formed at the lower lid 39.

The upper lid 40 may be coupled to the lower lid 39, and upperthrough-holes 40A, 40B, and 40C through which upper portions of thelockers 48, 49, and 50 pass may be formed in the upper lid 40. The upperlid 40 may be coupled to the lower lid to cover the top surface of thelower lid 39. At least portions of the supplier entrance flow paths 311,321, and 331 shown in FIG. 1 may be accommodated between the lower lid39 and the upper lid 40.

In addition, when a plurality of lockers 48, 49, and 50 are provided atthe lid 38, a first upper through-hole 40A through which an upperportion of the first locker 48 passes may be formed in the upper lid 40,a second upper through-hole 40B through which an upper portion of thesecond locker 49 passes may be formed in the upper lid 40, and a thirdupper through-hole 40C through which an upper portion of the thirdlocker 50 passes may be formed in the upper lid 40. Portions of thelockers 48, 49, and 50 may be disposed to be exposed to the outside ofthe upper lid 40.

The water supply bodies 41, 42, and 43 may be connected to the watersupply flow path 4 and the supplier entrance flow paths 311, 321, and331, which are shown in FIG. 1. Inner water supply flow paths 44, 45,and 46 that guide water to the capsules C1, C2, and C3 accommodated inthe capsule accommodation parts 31, 32, and 33 may be formed in thewater supply bodies 41, 42, and 43. If the supplier entrance flow paths311, 321, and 331 are connected to the water supply bodies 41, 42, and43, the inner water supply flow paths 44, 45, and 46 may communicatewith the supplier entrance flow paths 311, 321, and 331, and waterpassing through the supplier entrance flow paths 311, 321, and 331 maybe guided to the inner water supply flow paths 44, 45, and 46 to beintroduced into the capsules C1, C2, and C3.

The water supply bodies 41, 42, and 43 may be provided at the capsuleaccommodation parts 31, 32, and 33, respectively, and one water supplybody may correspond to one capsule accommodation part.

The first capsule accommodation part 31, the second capsuleaccommodation part 32, and the third capsule accommodation part 33 maybe formed at the capsule accommodation body 36. A first water supplybody 41 capable of facing the first capsule accommodation part 31, asecond water supply body 42 capable of facing the second capsuleaccommodation body 32, and a third water supply body 43 capable offacing the third capsule accommodation part 33 may be provided at thelid 38.

A first inner water supply flow path 44 that guides water toward thefirst capsule accommodation part 31 may be formed in the first watersupply body 41. In addition, a second inner water supply flow path 45that guides water toward the second capsule accommodation part 32 may beformed in the second water supply body 42. In addition, a third innerwater supply flow path 46 that guides water toward the third capsuleaccommodation part 33 may be formed in the third water supply body 43.

The plurality of water supply bodies 41, 42, and 43 installed at the lid38 have different arrangement positions but may have the same detailedstructure. Hereinafter, for convenience, common detailed components ofthe water supply bodies 41, 42, and 43 are designated by like referencenumerals.

Each of the water supply bodies 41, 42, and 43 may include a body 41A inwhich the inner water supply flow path is formed, and a connecting part41B that guides water to each of the inner water supply flow paths 44,45, and 46. In addition, each of the water supply bodies 41, 42, and 43may further include an upper guide part 41C punching the capsule, theupper guide part 41C guiding water of the inner water supply flow pathto the inside of the capsule.

The body 41A may be formed in a disk shape, and be disposed inside thelocker which will be described later.

Each of the inner water supply flow paths 44, 45, and 46 may include ahorizontal flow path 41D horizontally formed from the outercircumferential surface of the body 41A to the center of the body 41A,and a vertical flow path 41E vertically formed in the lower direction ofthe body 41A from the horizontal flow path 41D.

The horizontal flow path 41D may communicate with the inside of theconnecting part 41B. In addition, the vertical flow path 41E maycommunicate with the inside of the upper guide part 41C.

The connecting part 41B may be formed to protrude from the body 41A. Theconnecting part 41B may protrude at the circumferential surface of thebody 41A. The supplier entrance flow paths 311, 321, and 331 may beconnected to the connecting part 41B.

Meanwhile, at least one sealing member adhered closely to the topsurface of the capsule accommodation body 36 and the bottom surfaces ofthe water supply bodies 41, 42, and 43 may be disposed between thecapsule accommodation body 36 and the water supply bodies 41, 42, and43. A first sealing member 47A disposed between the bottom surface ofthe first water supply body 41 and the top surface of the capsuleaccommodation body 36, a second sealing member 47B disposed between thebottom surface of the second water supply body 42 and the top surface ofthe capsule accommodation body 36, and a third sealing member 47Cdisposed between the bottom surface of the third water supply body 43and the top surface of the capsule accommodation body 36 may be disposedbetween the capsule accommodation body 36 and the lid module 37.

The lid module 37 may include the plurality of lockers 48, 49, and 50.

The lockers 48, 49, and 50 may be disposed to be rotated about verticalcenter axes. The lockers 48, 49, and 50 may serve as pushers that pressthe water supply bodies 41, 42, and 43 using the capsule accommodationparts 31, 32, and 33. If the user rotates the lockers 48, 49, and 50 ina locking direction, the lockers 48, 49, and 50 may pressurize the watersupply bodies 41, 42, and 43 in directions close to the capsuleaccommodation parts 31, 32, and 33, and the water supply bodies 41, 42,and 43 may pressurized by the capsules C1, C2, and C3 accommodated inthe capsule accommodation parts 31, 32, and 33.

The lockers 48, 49, and 50 may be provided in the water supply bodies41, 42, and 43, respectively, and one locker may correspond to one watersupply body.

When the first water supply body 41, the second water supply body 42,and the third water supply body 43 are disposed at the lid 38, the firstlocker 48 capable of pressing the first water supply body 41 in thelower direction, the second locker 49 capable of pressing the secondwater supply body 42 in the lower direction, and the third locker 50capable of pressing the third water supply body 43 in the lowerdirection may be provided in the lid 38.

The first locker 48 may include a water supply body accommodation partthat accommodates the first water supply body 41 therein, and the watersupply body accommodation part may be disposed to surround the outercircumferential surface and top surface of the first water supply body41.

The second locker 49 may include a water supply body accommodation partthat accommodates the second water supply body 42 therein, and the watersupply body accommodation part may be disposed to surround the outercircumferential surface and top surface of the second water supply body42.

The third locker 50 may include a water supply body accommodation partthat accommodates the third water supply body 43 therein, and the watersupply body accommodation part may be disposed to surround the outercircumferential surface and top surface of the third water supply body43.

The plurality of lockers 48, 49, and 50 disposed in the lid 38 havedifferent arrangement positions, but may have the same detailedstructure. Hereinafter, for convenience, common detailed components ofthe lockers 48, 49, and 50 are designated by like reference numerals.

Each of the locker 48, 49, and 50 may include a hollow cylinder 48Ahaving a space in which the water supply body is accommodated, thehollow cylinder 48A surrounding the outer circumference of the watersupply body, and a top plate part 48B formed at the top of the hollowcylinder 48A to cover the top surface of the water supply body. Each ofthe lockers 48, 49, and 50 may further include a handle part 48Cprotruding from the top plate body 48B.

The hollow cylinder 48A may have an internal diameter where a lockerholding part 364 formed in the capsule accommodation body 36 is insertedthereinto. The internal diameter of the hollow cylinder 48A may begreater than an external diameter of the locker holding part 364 formedin the capsule accommodation body 36. The hollow cylinder 48A may berestricted or unrestricted by the locker holding part 364 in a state inwhich the hollow cylinder 48A surrounds the locker holding part 364.

Each of the lockers 48, 49, and 50 may further include a projection 48Dformed at the hollow cylinder 48A to be held by the locker holding part364 formed in the capsule accommodation body 36 or to pass through aprojection entrance part 365 formed at the locker holding part 364.

The projection 48D may be formed to protrude at the lower innercircumferential surface of the hollow cylinder 48A. A plurality ofprojections 48D may be formed at an equal distance at the innercircumference of the hollow cylinder 48A.

A plurality of locker holding parts 364 may be formed in the capsuleaccommodation body 36. The locker holding part 364 may be formed as manyas the number of lockers 48, 49, and 50 in the capsule accommodationbody 36. The plurality of locker holding parts 364 may be formed to bespaced apart from each other in the front-rear direction in the capsuleaccommodation body 36.

The locker holding part 364 may include a protruding part 364Aprotruding in the upper direction from the horizontal plate 361 of thecapsule accommodation body 36, and a ring part 364B protruding in a ringshape at the upper outer circumference of the protruding part 364A.

The projection entrance part 365 may be formed to penetrate in thetop-bottom direction at a portion of the ring part 364B. The projectionentrance part 365 may be formed at the ring part 364a to have the samenumber as the projections 48D. A plurality of projection entrance parts365 may be formed at an equal distance at the ring part 364A.

The projection 48D may pass through the projection entrance part 365 atthe upper side of the projection entrance part 365. When the locker isrotated, the projection 48D may be moved downward of the ring part 364B,and be held by the ring part 364B in the upper direction.

An avoidance hole 482 that avoids the connecting part formed in thewater supply body may be formed long in the hollow cylinder 48A. Theavoidance hole 48E may be formed at a portion of the hollow cylinder48A, and be formed long in the circumferential direction along thehollow cylinder 48A.

The top surface of the top plate part 48B and the handle part 48C may beexposed to the lid 38, and the user may lock or unlock each of thelockers 48, 49, and 50 to or from the capsule accommodation body 36 byrotating the handle part 48C clockwise or counterclockwise.

Meanwhile, each of lockers 48, 49, and 50 may further include apressurizing part 48F protruding from the bottom surface of the topplate part 48B to pressurize the water supply body in the direction ofthe capsule accommodation body.

The pressurizing part 48F may protrude in the opposite direction of thehandle part 48C. The pressurizing part 48F may include a convex part 48Gconvexly formed downward from the bottom surface of the top plate part48B of each of the lockers 48, 49, and 50, and a pressurizing projection48H protruding downward at the center of the convex part 48G topressurize the top surface of the water supply body.

If the projection 48D formed at an inner lower portion of the hollowcylinder 48A is moved downward of the projection entrance part 365 bypassing through the projection entrance part 365 of the locker holdingpart 364, the pressurizing projection 48H of the pressurizing part 48Fmay be in contact with the top surface of the water supply body topressurize the water supply body in the lower direction.

In this state, if the user rotates the handle part 48C, the projection48D formed at the inner lower portion of the hollow cylinder 48A may berotated downward of the ring part 364B about the center of the centeraxis of the ring part 364B to be locked to the ring part 364B, and thepressurizing part 48F may continuously pressurize the water supply bodyin the lower direction.

The supplier 3 may further include a spring 481 disposed between thewater supply body and the top plate part 48B. When an external forcedoes not act, the spring 481 may push the top plate part 48B of the lockand the water supply body in directions opposite to each other. Thespring 481 may be configured as a plate spring entirely formed in a ringshape.

FIG. 14 is a sectional view illustrating an example of an inside of thefermentation tank assembly of the beverage maker according to someimplementations. FIG. 15 is a sectional view when the opening shown inFIG. 14 is opened.

An upper through-hole 105A disposed such that a portion of thefermentation tank cover 114 passes therethrough may be formed at anupper portion of the heat insulating wall cover 104 and 105. The upperthrough-hole 105A may be formed to be opened in the top-bottom directionin the upper heat insulating wall cover 105.

The fermentation tank 112 may include the seat part 116 on which anupper portion of the beverage brewing pack 12 is mounted.

The seat part 116 may include a sealing member supporting bump 117protruding from the fermentation tank 112 and a fermentation tanksealing member 118 placed on the sealing member supporting bump 117.

The sealing member supporting bump 117 may protrude in a ring shape inthe opening 111.

The fermentation tank sealing member 118 may be placed on the topsurface of the sealing member supporting bump 117.

A circumferential portion of the beverage brewing pack 12 may be placedon the top surface of the fermentation tank sealing member 118, and theinside of the fermentation tank 112 may be sealed by the beveragebrewing pack 12 and the fermentation tank sealing member 118.

An inserting guide 119B into an inserting projection 119A formed at thefermentation tank cover 114 is rotatably inserted may be formed in theopening 111 of the fermentation tank 112. The inserting guide 119B maybe formed at a portion of the opening 111 of the fermentation tank 112.The inserting guide 119B may include a vertical guide groove 119Cthrough which the inserting projection 119A passes approximately in thetop-bottom direction, and a horizontal guide groove 119D formed long inthe circumferential direction along the opening 111 at a lower portionof the vertical guide groove 119C to guide movement of the insertingprojection 119A.

The inserting projection 119A may be protrude in the horizontaldirection at a position capable of facing the opening 111 of thefermentation tank 112 when the fermentation tank cover 114 is closed.

The inserting guide 119B may be formed in a recessed shape at a higherposition than the sealing member supporting bump 117.

A plurality of ribs 120 that allow a flexible container 420 of thebeverage ingredient pack 12, which will be described later, to be spacedapart from the inner surface of the fermentation tank 112 may protrudefrom the inner wall of the fermentation tank 112. As materials arefermented, gas may be generated in the beverage ingredient pack 12, andthe flexible container 420 may be expanded by the gas in the beverageingredient pack 12. In the beverage maker, when a beverage product isextracted, air supplied from the beverage extraction pressurizing device15 shown in FIG. 15 may be introduced between the flexible container 420and the inner surface of the fermentation tank 112, and the plurality ofribs 120 formed on the inner wall of the fermentation tank 112 mayassist smooth flow of the air supplied to the inside of the fermentationtank 112 from the beverage extraction pressurizing device 15.

The plurality of ribs 120 may be formed long in the top-bottomdirection. The plurality of ribs 120 may be spaced apart from oneanother in the circumferential direction of the fermentation tank 112along the inner surface of the fermentation tank 112.

The plurality of ribs 120, referring to FIG. 4, may be formed at each ofupper and lower portions of the inner wall of the fermentation tank 112.

In some implementations, the beverage maker 1 may include at least twochannels that connect to the beverage ingredient pack (e.g., beveragebrewing pack 12) mounted inside the fermentation tank assembly 11. Thesechannels may supply or extract liquids or gases to or from the beverageingredient pack 12. For example, as shown in the example of FIG. 14, onesuch channel may include at least the main tube 220 and/or the main flowpath part 230. This channel may connect to the inner hollow part 430 ofthe beverage ingredient pack 12. Another such channel, also shown in theexample of FIG. 14, may include at least the sub-tube 290 and/or thesub-flow path part 280. This channel may connect to the gas dischargeflow path 450 of beverage ingredient pack 12. In the example of FIG. 14,both of these channels are formed through the fermentation tank cover114, although implementations are not limited thereto.

Hereinafter, an example of the fermentation tank cover 114 in FIG. 14will be described in more detail.

The fermentation tank cover 114 may include an outer body 200, an innerbody 210 rotatably disposed at the outer body 200, and a lower bodyassembly 240 coupled to a lower portion of the inner body 210. The lowerbody assembly 240 may include a main flow path part 230 to which themain tube 220 is connected. An inner space S6 may be formed in at leastone of the inner body 210 and the lower body assembly 240. In addition,at least one portion of the main tube 220 may be accommodated in theinner space S6. The main tube 220 may be connected to the main flow pathpart 230 in the inner space S6 of the main tube 220.

The lower body assembly 240 may include a lower body 250 coupled to theinner body 210, and a flow path body 260 in which the main flow pathpart 230 is formed.

The outer body 200 may form an appearance of the circumferential surfaceof the fermentation tank cover 114. The fermentation tank cover 114 maybe hinge-connected to the fermentation tank 112 or the heat insulatingwall cover 105. In this case, the outer body 200 may be hinge-connectedto the fermentation tank 112 or the heat insulating wall cover 105. Theouter body 200 may be mounted on the top surface of the heat insulatingcover 105. The outer body 200 is preferably connected to the heatinsulating wall cover 105 by a hinge.

An inner body accommodation space S7 in which the inner body 210 can berotatably accommodated may be formed in the outer body 200.

The outer body 200 may surround the outer circumference of the innerbody 210 accommodated in the inner body accommodation space S7, andprotect the outer circumference of the inner body 210.

The inner body 210 may be disposed in the inner body accommodation spaceS7 to rotate about a vertical center axis.

The inner body 210 may include an inner frame 212 rotatably disposed inthe outer body 200, the inner frame 212 having the inner space S6 formedat a lower portion thereof.

The inner body 210 may include a handle 214 disposed at the top surfaceof the inner frame 212. The user may rotate the inner body 210 about thevertical center axis of the inner body 210 while grasping the handle214. When the inner body 210 is rotated, the lower body assembly 240 maybe rotated together with the inner body 210.

The inner frame 212 may include an inner upper body part 215, an innerlower body part 216 protruding from the bottom surface of the innerupper body part 215, the inner lower body part 216 having the innerspace S6 formed therein, and an outer hollow part 217 protruding at theouter circumference of the inner upper body part 215, the outer hollowpart 217 being spaced apart from the inner lower body part 216.

A tube through-hole 218 through which the main tube 220 and a sub-tube290 which will be described later pass may be formed in the inner frame212. The tube through-hole 218 may be a hole through which the main tube220 and the sub-tube 290, extending to the outside from the inner spaceS6, pass. The tube through-hole 218 is preferably formed at one side ofthe inner lower body part 216.

The inner upper body part 215 may include a handle accommodation groovepart 215A in which at least one portion of the handle 214 isaccommodated. The handle accommodation groove part 215A may be formed ina downwardly recessed shape, and be formed larger than the handle 214.

The inner lower body part 216 may protrude in a hollow cylindrical shapefrom the bottom surface of the inner upper body part 215. The innerspace S6 may be formed in the inner lower body part 216 such that thebottom surface of the inner space S6 is opened.

The outer hollow part 217 may be formed to protrude in the lowerdirection at the outer circumference of the inner upper body part 215.The outer hollow part 217 may be configured as a hollow cylindrical partformed larger than the inner lower body part 216. The outer hollow part217 may be in surface contact with the inner circumferential surface ofthe outer body 200, and be supported by the outer body 200.

Meanwhile, the outer body 200 may include an outer frame 204 and anouter base 206 coupled to the outer frame 204, the outer base 206including an inner body through-hole 205 through which the inner body210 passes.

The outer body 200 may include an inner hollow part 207 having a smallersize than the outer hollow part 217, the inner hollow part 207 facingthe outer hollow part 217. A return spring accommodation space S8 inwhich a return spring 300 which will be described later is accommodatedmay be formed between the inner hollow part 207 and the outer hollowpart 217.

The inner hollow part 207 may protrude from the top surface of the outerbase 206. The inner hollow part 207 may be formed to have a smaller sizethan the outer hollow part 217 of the inner body 210.

The main tube 220 and the main flow path part 230 may constitute themain flow path connecting part 115 shown in FIG. 1. The main tube 220may constitute a portion of the main flow path 2 shown in FIG. 1, andthe main flow path part 230 may constitute the main flow path connectingpart 115 shown in FIG. 2.

The main tube 220 may extend to the outside of the fermentation tankcover 114 through the tube through-hole 218 formed in the fermentationtank cover 114.

The main flow path part 230 may include an upper flow path part 232protruding to the inner space S6 at an upper portion of the flow pathbody 260, and a lower flow path part 234 protruding toward the space S1of the fermentation tank 112 at a lower portion of the flow path body260.

A lower portion of the main flow path part 230 may be in contact with apack main flow path formed in the beverage brewing pack 12, which willbe described later. The main flow path part 230 may communicate with thepack main flow path of the beverage brewing pack 12.

The lower body assembly 240 may be coupled to the inner frame 212 toseal the inner space S6.

An inner frame insertion groove part 242 into which a bottom end of theinner frame 212 is inserted may be formed in the lower body assembly240.

The lower body 250 may be coupled to a lower portion of the inner body210, and at least one portion of the lower body 250 may be inserted intothe opening 111.

The inserting projection 119A sliding along the inserting guide 119Bformed in the opening 111 of the fermentation tank 112 may be formed atthe outer circumferential surface of the lower body 250.

The flow path body 260 may be installed at the lower body 250.

The fermentation tank cover 114 may include a lower sealing member 270mounted to at least one of the lower body 250 and the flow path body260, the lower sealing member 270 being adhered closely to the beveragebrewing pack 12.

A communication path S9 that guides gas extracted from the beveragebrewing pack 12 to a sub-flow path part 280 which will be describedlater may be formed in the lower sealing member 270. The lower sealingmember 270 may be a hollow elastic member having the communication pathS9 formed therein.

A portion of the main flow path part 230 may protrude to thecommunication path S9, and the lower sealing member 270 may protect themain flow path part 230.

Meanwhile, the sub-flow path part 280 communicating with thecommunication path S9 may be formed in the vicinity of the main flowpath part 230.

The sub-flow path part 280 may be formed in the flow path body 260. Thesub-flow path part 280 may include an upper flow path part protruding tothe inner space S6 at an upper portion of the flow path body 260.

The sub-tube 290 that guides gas passing through the sub-flow path part280 may be connected to the sub-flow path part 280. At least one portionof the sub-tube 290 may be accommodated in the inner space S6. Thesub-tube 290 may extend to the outside of the fermentation tank cover114 through the tube through-hole 218 formed in the fermentation tankcover 114.

The gas extraction flow path 71 shown in FIG. 1 may be connected to thesub-tube 290, and the sub-tube 290 may constitute a portion of the gasextraction flow path 71 shown in FIG. 1.

The pressure sensor 72 shown in FIG. 1 may sense a pressure of the gaspassing through the sub-tube 290.

When the gas extraction valve 73 shown in FIG. 1 is opened, gas in thebeverage brewing pack 12 may sequentially pass through a gas dischargeflow path 450 formed in the beverage brewing pack 12, the communicationpath S9 of the lower sealing member 270, the sub-flow path part 280, andthe sub-tube 290 and then flow in the pressure sensor 72. The pressuresensor 72 may sense a pressure of the gas in the beverage brewing pack12 in a state in which the fermentation tank cover 114 is not opened.

The fermentation tank cover 114 may further include the return spring300 connected to the outer body 200 and the inner body 210. One end ofthe return spring 300 may be connected to the outer body 200, and theother end of the return spring 300 may be connected to the inner body210. The return spring 300 may be configured as a coil spring. When theuser holds and turns the handle 214 of the inner body 210, the returnspring 300 may be elastically deformed, and a return force that rotatesthe inner body 210 in the opposite direction may be applied to the innerbody 210.

Meanwhile, as shown in FIGS. 14 and 16, the beverage ingredient pack 12may include an interface portion 410 that provides an interface with thefermentation tank cover 114 in a state in which the fermentation tankcover 114 is closed. In addition to the interface portion 410, thebeverage ingredient pack 12 may include the flexible container 420connected to the interface portion 410, the flexible container 420accommodating the beverage ingredient materials therein, a main flowpath body 440 provided in the interface portion 410, the main flow pathbody 440 having an inner hollow part 430 formed therein. The gasdischarge flow path 450 through which the gas in the beverage ingredientpack 12 is discharged may be formed in the beverage ingredient pack 12.

A sealing member mounting groove part 412 on which a lower portion ofthe lower sealing member 270 is inserted and mounted may be formed atthe top surface of the interface portion 410. The sealing membermounting groove part 412 may be formed in a shape recessed downward fromthe top surface of the interface portion 410. The sealing membermounting groove part 412 may be formed in a ring shape at the topsurface of the interface portion 410. The bottom end of the lowersealing member 270 as a hollow elastic member may be placed on thesealing member mounting groove part 412.

When the beverage ingredient pack 12 is inserted into the fermentationtank 112 to be mounted on the seat part 116, the inner hollow part 430of the beverage ingredient pack 12 and the gas discharge flow path 450of the beverage ingredient pack 12 may face upward. The inner hollowpart 430 of the beverage ingredient pack 12 and the gas discharge flowpath 450 of the beverage ingredient pack 12 may be exposed to the insideof the opening 111 of the fermentation tank 112.

The fermentation tank cover 114 may fall down to cover the opening 111of the fermentation tank 112 after the beverage ingredient pack 12 ismounted in the fermentation tank 112. When the inner body 210 isrotatably inserted into the opening 111 by a manipulation of the handle214, the lower sealing member 270 of the fermentation tank cover 114 maybe mounted on the sealing member mounting groove part 412. The lowersealing member 270 of the fermentation tank cover 114 may surround theupper outer circumference of the main flow path body 440.

When the fermentation tank cover 114 is closed and inserted into thefermentation tank 112 while covering the opening 111 of the fermentationtank 112 as described above, a lower portion of the main flow path part230 of the flow path body 260 may communicate with the inner hollow part430 of the beverage ingredient pack 12. In addition, when thefermentation tank cover 114 is closed, the gas discharge flow path 450of the beverage ingredient pack 12, the communication path S9 of thelower sealing member 270, and the sub-flow path part 280 of the flowpath body 260 may sequentially communicate with each other.

As such, in a state in which the fermentation tank cover 114 closes theopening 111 of the fermentation tank 112, the supply path along whichthe main tube 220, the main flow path part 230 of the flow path body 260and the inner hollow part 430 of the beverage ingredient pack 12 aresequentially continued may be formed in the fermentation tank assembly11. In addition, a beverage extraction path along which the inner hollowpart 430 of the beverage ingredient pack 12, the main flow path part 230of the flow path body 260, and the main tube 220 are sequentiallycontinued may be formed in the fermentation tank assembly 11. Inaddition, a gas discharge path along which the gas discharge flow path450 of the beverage ingredient pack 12, the communication path S9 of thelower sealing member 270, the sub-flow path part 280 of the flow pathbody 260, and the sub-tube 290 are sequentially continued may be formedin the fermentation tank assembly 11.

In a beverage maker, the supply of material, the extraction of beverage,and the calculation of a fermentation degree of the beverage can beperformed in a state in which the fermentation tank cover 114 is notopened but closed.

FIG. 16 is a side view illustrating an example of the beverageingredient pack of the beverage maker according to some implementations.FIG. 17 is a sectional view illustrating the example of the beverageingredient pack of the beverage maker according to some implementations.

The beverage ingredient pack 12 may include an interface portion 410including a mounting part 411 mounted in the fermentation tank assembly11 shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the interface portion 410 having an outerhollow part 413 protruding therefrom; the flexible container 420 coupledto the interface portion 410; the main flow path body 440 including theinner hollow part 430 inserted and accommodated in the outer hollow part413, and the main flow path body 440 having a handle part 441 located atthe top of the outer hollow part 413; and a tubular portion, such asflexible tube 460, connected to the inner hollow part 430, the flexibletube 460 protruding to the inside of the flexible container 420. In someimplementations, the flexible tube 460 may be part of the interfaceportion 410.

The external diameter of the interface portion 410 may be smaller thanthe internal diameter of the opening 111 of the fermentation tank 112shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, and be greater than the internal diameter ofthe seat part 116 shown in FIGS. 14 and 15.

The mounting part 411 may be placed and mounted on the seat part 116shown in FIG. 15. The mounting part 411 may be a part protruding to havea thinner thickness than the other part along an outer circumference410A of the interface portion 410. The mounting part 411 may protrude inthe radial direction from the interface portion 410. The mounting part411 may be formed in a ring shape along the outer circumference 410A ofthe interface portion 410.

The beverage ingredient pack 12, as shown in FIG. 14, may be easilymounted in the fermentation tank 112 through a simple operation ofinserting the flexible container 420 into the space S1 of thefermentation tank 112 and placing the mounting part 411 on the seat part116 shown in FIG. 14.

A recessed part may be formed at the top surface of the interfaceportion 410. The recessed part formed at the top surface of theinterface portion 410 may be concavely recessed at the top surface ofthe interface portion 410 such that a portion of a finger of the user iseasily inserted thereinto. The recessed part formed at the top surfaceof the interface portion 410 may be the sealing member mounting groovepart 412 shown in FIG. 14. The recessed part may assist the user toeasily grasp the handle part 441 of the main flow path body 440 when thebeverage ingredient pack 12 is carried. When the beverage ingredientpack 12 is mounted in the fermentation tank 112 as shown in FIG. 14, therecessed part may be in contact with the lower sealing member 270 of thefermentation tank cover 114. Hereinafter, for convenience, the recessedpart will be described using the same reference numeral as the sealingmember mounting groove part.

The outer hollow part 413 may protrude in the upper direction at thecenter of the interface portion 410.

The outer hollow part 413 may protrude in the upper direction from abottom surface 412A of the recessed part 412. The outer hollow part 413may protrude higher than a height H1 of the recessed part 412. A heightH2 of the outer hollow part 413 may be higher than the height H1 of therecessed part 412. The outer hollow part 413 may support the handle part441 of the main flow path body 440 such that the handle part 441 islocated higher than a top surface 414 of the interface portion 410.

The flexible container 420 may be joined with the interface portion 410to be integrated with the interface portion 410. A portion of theflexible container 420 may be inserted into the interface portion 410.

The interface portion 410 may be configured by joining a plurality ofmembers, and the flexible container 420 may be fixed to the interfaceportion 410 by joining a plurality of members in a state in whichportions of the flexible container 420 is inserted between the pluralityof members.

The interface portion 410 may include a main body 415 having themounting part 411 and the outer hollow part 413, formed therein, and ajoining body 416 joined with the main body 415, the joining body 416being joined with the flexible container 420.

The joining body 416 may include a joining part 417 joined with theflexible container 420, the joining part 417 disposed under the mainbody 415, and a center hollow part 418 inserted into the outer hollowpart 413 at the joining part 417, the center hollow part 413 joined withthe main body 415.

The top surface of the joining part 417 may face the bottom surface ofthe main body 415. The joining part 417 may include a ring-shaped platebody in which the flexible container 420 is joined with the top surfacethereof.

When the inner hollow part 430 of the main flow path body 440 isinserted into the outer hollow part 413, the center hollow part 418 maybe located between the inner circumferential surface of the outer hollowpart 413 and the outer circumferential surface of the inner hollow part430.

The inner hollow part 430 may include an upper hollow part 431 disposedin the outer hollow part 413, and a tube connecting part 432 protrudingat a lower portion of the upper hollow part 431, the tube connectingpart 432 having a smaller diameter than the upper hollow part 431, thetube connecting part 432 being connected to the flexible tube 460.

The inner hollow part 430 may be separably inserted into the interfaceportion 410. When the inner hollow part 430 is inserted into theinterface portion 410, the inner hollow part 430 may be inserted intothe interface portion 410 to be in surface contact with the outer body200 and the center hollow part 418. The inner hollow part 430 may beinserted into the interface portion 410 to be capable of being escapedfrom the interface portion 410 when the user strongly pulls the handlepart 441 in the upper direction.

The main flow path body 440 may be separated from the interface portion410. When a pack main flow path P10 is blocked or when the flexible tube460 is not normally spread or bent, the main flow path body 440 may beseparated from the interface portion 410. The user may take an action ofreplacing the main flow path body 440 or the flexible tube 460.

The pack main flow path P10 may be formed in the inner hollow part 430.The pack main flow path P10 may be formed long in the top-bottomdirection in the inner hollow part 430. The pack main flow path P10 maybe formed at the upper hollow part 431 and the tube connecting part 432.The pack main flow path P10 may be formed long in the top-bottomdirection from the top end of the upper hollow part 431 to the bottomend of the tube connecting part 432. The pack main flow path P10 may beformed such that an area of the upper hollow part 431 is wider than thatof the tube connecting part 432.

At least one gas discharge flow path 450 may be formed in the vicinityof the pack main flow path P10 in the upper hollow part 431. A pluralityof gas discharge flow paths 450 may be formed in parallel to the packmain flow path P10 between the pack main flow path P10 and the outercircumferential surface of the upper hollow part 431.

The tube connecting part 432 may include a flexible tubeattaching/detaching part 433 to/from which the flexible tube 460 isattached/detached.

The handle part 441 of the main flow path body 440 may be formed toprotrude at an upper portion of the inner hollow part 430. The handlepart 441 may be formed in a hollow disk shape at the upper portion ofthe inner hollow part 430. The user may carry the beverage ingredientpack 12 while grasping the mounting part 411 or the handle part 441. Anouter diameter Dl of the handle part 441 may be greater than that D2 ofthe outer hollow part 413. The bottom surface of the handle part 441 maybe placed on the top end of the outer hollow part 413. The handle part412 has a smaller size than the recessed part 412. The handle part 441may be spaced apart from the top surface 414 of the interface portion410 and a circumferential surface 412B of the recessed part 412.

The user may grasp the handle part 441 of the main flow path body 440while putting a finger of the user in the recessed part 412, and carrythe beverage ingredient pack 12 to the upper side of the fermentationtank 112 shown in FIG. 15. The user may insert the flexible container420 into the space S1 of the fermentation tank 112, and place themounting part 411 on the seat part 116 as shown in FIG. 14. Thus,beverage ingredient pack 12 can be simply mounted in the fermentationtank 112.

Meanwhile, when the user extracts the beverage ingredient pack 12 fromthe fermentation tank 112, the user may grasp the handle part 441 of themain flow path body 440 with a hand of the user by putting a hand of theuser in the opening of the fermentation tank 112, and upwardly lift thebeverage ingredient pack 12. The beverage ingredient pack 12 may beescaped to the upper side of the opening 111 of the fermentation tank112. Thus, the beverage ingredient pack 12 can be easily extracted fromthe fermentation tank 112.

The flexible tube 460 may guide water or air guided to the pack mainflow path P10 to a deep position in the flexible container 420, andbeverage contained at a lower portion of the flexible container 420 mayeasily flow in the pack main flow path P10 through the flexible tube460.

The flexible tube 460 may be roundly curved or bent at least once in theflexible container 420. The flexible tube 460 may be curved or bentbefore the beverage ingredient pack 12 is inserted into the fermentationtank 112. When air or hot water is supplied to the pack main flow pathP10, the flexible tube 460 may be spread long in the length direction bythe air or hot water.

When the flexible container 420 is maximally expanded, the flexible tube460 may have a length where the bottom end of the flexible tube 460 isspaced apart from the inner bottom end of the flexible container 420.

The bottom end of the flexible tube 460 may be sharply formed, and havea shape of which portion is opened in the circumferential directionthereof.

The flexible tube 460 may have a lower hardness than the main flow pathbody 440. The flexible tube 460 is preferably connected to the tubeconnecting part 432 of the main flow path body 440 after the flexibletube 460 is manufactured separately from the main flow path body 440.

The flexible tube 460 is not connected to the main flow path body 440,but a hollow part through which a fluid can pass may integrally protrudelong at a lower portion of the main flow path body 440. However, in thiscase, the compactness of the beverage ingredient pack 12 may not beeasily performed, or it may be inconvenience for the user to grasp thehandle part 441 with a hand of the user, depending on the hardness ofthe main flow path body 440. More specifically, the hardness of theentire main flow path body 440 may be formed low such that the hollowpart can be curved or bent. In this case, when the user grasps thehandle part 441 of a hand of a user, the handle part 441 may also becurved or bent by the hand of the user. In addition, it may not be easyfor the user to grasp the handle part 441 with the hand of the user.

On the contrary, the hardness of the entire main flow path body 440including the hollow part may be formed high such that the hardness ofthe handle part 441 increases. In this case, the main flow path body 440may have a structure in which the hollow part is not curved or bent, andthe compactness of the beverage ingredient pack 12 may not be easilyperformed.

That is, the flexible tube 460 is preferably connected to the main flowpath body 440 after the main flow path body 440 and the flexible tube460 are manufactured separately from each other. The user can easilygrasp the handle part having a high hardness with a hand of the user,and the flexible tube 460 having a relatively low hardness can assistthe compactness of the beverage ingredient pack 12 as the hollow part iscurved or bent in the flexible tube 460.

FIG. 18 is a side view illustrating another example of the beverageingredient pack of the beverage maker according to some implementations.FIG. 19 is a sectional view illustrating the another example of thebeverage ingredient pack of the beverage maker according to someimplementations.

In the beverage ingredient pack 12 shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, a joiningposition of the flexible container 420 may be different from that in theexample of the beverage ingredient pack shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, and aconfiguration of a joining body 416′ may be different from that in thebeverage ingredient pack shown in FIGS. 16 and 17.

The joining body 416′ of the beverage ingredient pack shown in FIGS. 18and 19 may include a joining part 417′ disposed on the bottom surface ofthe main body 415, and the joining part 417′ having the flexiblecontainer 420 joined therewith, and the center hollow part inserted intothe outer hollow part 413 at the joining part 417′. The joining part417′ may include a hollow body of which top surface faces the bottomsurface of the main body 415, the hollow body having the flexiblecontainer 420 is joined with the circumferential surface thereof.

In the beverage ingredient pack shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, the othercomponents except the joining body 416′ are identical or similar tothose in the example of the beverage ingredient pack shown in FIGS. 16and 17. Therefore, like reference numerals are used for like components,and their descriptions are omitted.

The joining part 417′ shown in FIGS. 18 and 19 may has a higher heightthan the tube connecting part 432, and surround the outer circumferenceof the tube connecting part 432. A gap G into which the flexible tube460 is inserted may be formed between the outer circumferential surfaceof the joining part 417′ and the tube connecting part 432.

The flexible tube 460 may be inserted into the joining part 417′ to beconnected to the tube connecting part 432.

The joining part 417′ shown in FIGS. 18 and 19 may protect a connectingpart between the tube connecting part 432 and the flexible tube 460 andthe outer circumference of the tube connecting part 432 by surroundingthe connecting part between the tube connecting part 432 and theflexible tube 460 and the outer circumference of the tube connectingpart 432. Thus, damage of the tube connecting part 432 can be minimized.

FIG. 20 is a sectional view illustrating still another example of thebeverage ingredient pack of the beverage maker according to someimplementations.

In the beverage ingredient pack shown in FIG. 20, a protruding directionof an outer hollow part 413″ and a detailed shape of the outer hollowpart 413″ may be different from those in the outer hollow part 413 ofthe interface portion 410 shown in FIGS. 18 and 19. In addition, aninterface portion 410″ may include a main body 415″ and a connectingbody 416″, which are different from those of the interface portion 410shown in FIGS. 18 and 19.

In the beverage ingredient pack of this implementation, configurationsand operations of the flexible container, the main flow path body 440,and the flexible tube 460 except the interface portion 410″ areidentical to those in the beverage ingredient pack shown in FIGS. 18 and19. Therefore, like reference numerals are used for like components, andtheir descriptions are omitted.

The interface portion 410″ may include the mounting part 411, therecessed part 412, and the outer hollow part 413″, and the mounting part411 and the recessed part 412 are identical to those in the beverageingredient pack shown in FIGS. 18 and 19. Therefore, like referencenumerals are used for like components, and their descriptions areomitted.

The outer hollow part 413″ may protrude in the lower direction at thecenter of the interface portion 410″. The outer hollow part 413″ mayprotrude in the lower direction under the recessed part 412.

The outer hollow part 413″ may support the main flow path body 440 suchthat the handle part 441 of the main flow path body 440 is locatedhigher than the bottom surface 412A of the recessed part 412 as thehandle part 441 is located lower than the top surface 414 of theinterface portion 410″.

The outer hollow part 413″ may be formed to be elastically deformed. Theouter hollow part 413″ may include a first hollow part 413A into whichthe inner hollow part 430 of the main flow path body 440 is inserted, asecond hollow part 413B formed larger than the first hollow part 413A,the second hollow part 413B surrounding the outer circumference of thefirst hollow part 413A, and a connecting part 413C connecting the firsthollow part 413A and the second hollow part 413B.

If necessary, the first hollow part 413A may be elastically deformed ina state in which the first hollow part 413A is connected to the secondhollow part 413B through the connecting part 413C.

The interface portion 410″ may include the main body 415″ in which themounting part 411 and the outer hollow part 413″ are formed, and theconnecting body 416″ connected to the main body 415″ and the flexiblecontainer 420.

The connecting body 416″ may include a lower hollow part 418″surrounding the outer circumference of the outer hollow part 413″.

The lower hollow part 418″ may be formed in a hollow cylindrical shape.The lower hollow part 418″ may be attached/detached to/from the mainbody 415″.

A lower hollow part inserting groove part 416A into which an upperportion of the lower hollow part 418″ is inserted may be formed in themain body 415″. The lower hollow part inserting groove part 416A may beformed to be recessed in the vicinity of the outer hollow part 413″ ofthe main body 415″.

The connecting body 416″ may be separably connected to the main body415″.

A holding bump 413D may protrude from the outer surface of the outerhollow part 413″, and a holding projection 418A mounted on the holdingbump 413D to be held by the holding bump 413D may be formed at the innercircumferential surface of the lower hollow part 418″.

When an upper portion of the connecting body 416″ is inserted into thelower hollow part inserting groove part 416A, the holding projection418A may be placed on the holding bump 413D to be held by the holdingbump 413D. If an external force is not applied to the connecting body416″, a state in which the connecting body 416″ is coupled to the mainbody 415″ may be maintained.

The connecting body 416″ may further include a joining part 417″protruding at a lower portion of the lower hollow part 418″, the joiningpart 417″ having the flexible container 420 joined with at least one ofthe top and bottom surfaces thereof.

The flexible container 420 may be thermally fused to the top or bottomsurface of the joining part 417″.

The top surface of the joining part 417″ may face the bottom surface ofthe main body 415″. The joining part 417″ may include a ring-shapedplate body having the flexible container 420 joined with the top surfacethereof.

FIG. 21 is a sectional view illustrating the beverage extraction valveof the beverage maker according to some implementations.

The beverage extraction valve 62 may include a valve body 600 in which avalve flow path 611 connected to the beverage extraction flow path 61shown in FIG. 1 is formed; a lifting valve body 610 disposed in thevalve body 600 to move up/down, the lifting valve body opening/closingthe valve flow path 611; a rotating lever 620 rotatably connected to anupper portion of the lifting valve body 610 to moves up/down the liftingvalve body 610 when the rotating lever 620 is rotated; and the microswitch 630 switched by the lifting valve body 610. The beverageextraction valve 62 may further include a valve spring 640 built in thevalve body 600 to elastically pressurize the lifting valve body 610 inthe lower direction.

The valve body 600 may be mounted to the center cover shown in FIG. 2.The valve flow path 611 may include a horizontal flow path 612 formedlong in the front-rear direction along the valve body 600, and avertical flow path 613 formed to be bent in the lower direction at thefront end of the horizontal flow path 612. Beverage guided to thebeverage extraction flow path 61 shown in FIG. 1 may sequentially passthrough the horizontal flow path 612 and the vertical flow path 613 whenthe horizontal flow path 612 is opened, and then drop downward from thevertical flow path 613. The valve body 600 may include a horizontal partin which the horizontal flow path 612 is formed, and a vertical partformed perpendicular to the horizontal part, the vertical part havingthe vertical flow path 613 formed therein.

The lifting valve body 610 may be disposed to move up/down in the valveflow path 611, particularly, the vertical flow path 613. The liftingvalve body 610 may move down to a height at which the horizontal flowpath 612 is blocked, and move up to a height at which the horizontalflow path 612 is opened. The lifting valve body 610 may be disposed suchthat an upper portion of the lifting valve body 610 protrudes upward ofthe valve body 600. A manipulating projection 614 that allows the microswitch to be point-contacted when the lifting valve body 610 moves upmay protrude at the lifting valve body 610.

The rotating lever 620 may be connected to the upper portion of thelifting valve body 610 by a hinge 621. The rotating lever 620 may beerected in the vertical direction or laid in the horizontal direction ina state in which the rotating lever 620 is connected to the liftingvalve body 610.

When the rotating lever 620 is laid in the horizontal direction, thelifting valve body 610 may move up to open the horizontal flow path 612.When the rotating lever 620 is erected in the vertical direction, thelifting valve body 610 may move down to close the horizontal flow path612.

The micro switch 630 may be connected to the controller 109 shown inFIG. 3, and the controller 109 may control the beverage maker accordingto on/off of the micro switch 630.

The valve spring 640 may be disposed at an upper portion of the verticalpart of the valve body 600 to elastically pressurize the lifting valvebody 610 in the lower direction.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart illustrating a control sequence of the beveragemaker according to some implementations.

The beverage maker of this implementation includes the controller 109.The user may input an operation command of the beverage maker bymanipulating a wireless communication device such as the rotary knob109A, or a remote controller, or a portable terminal. The controller 109may control the beverage maker using a preset program according to aswitching state of the rotary switch 109B or a signal applied to thewireless communication element. Here, the preset program may control thebeverage maker according to a beverage ingredient process of thebeverage maker.

Hereinafter, an example of operation of the beverage maker of thisimplementation will be described. Some portions of the followingdescription will provide an example of a beer maker, but implementationsmay be used to make any suitable beverage by fermentation.

The beverage maker of this implementation may include a cleansing andsterilizing course for cleansing and sterilizing flow paths in thebeverage maker. The cleansing and sterilizing course may be performedseparately from a beverage brewing course.

The cleansing and sterilizing course is preferably performed before thebeverage brewing course is performed.

In addition, the cleansing and sterilizing course may be performed by auser input during the beverage brewing course.

In this case, the cleansing and sterilizing course may be performed in astep in which the main valve 9 is closed and no additive is contained inthe supplier 3, such as a primary fermentation step or secondaryfermentation step which will be described later.

The cleansing and sterilizing course may be performed in a state inwhich the capsules C1, C2, and C3 are not accommodated in the supplier3, and the beverage brewing course may be performed in a state in whichthe capsules C1, C2, and C3 are accommodated in the supplier 3 and thebeverage brewing pack 12 is accommodated in the fermentation tank 112.

Hereinafter, the cleansing and sterilizing course will be firstdescribed.

The user may input a cleansing and sterilizing command through the inputunit, remote controller, or portable terminal provided in the controller109. The controller 109 may control the beverage maker in the cleansingand sterilizing course as the cleansing and sterilizing command isinput.

The user may manipulate the beverage extraction valve 62 to be opened,and then input the cleansing and sterilizing command through the inputunit, remote controller, or portable terminal.

If the micro switch 630 of the beverage extraction valve 62 is turnedon, the controller 109 may turn on the water supply pump 52 and thewater supply heater 53 so as to cleanse and sterilize the flow paths,and turn on the bypass valve 35 and the first, second, and thirdopening/closing valves 313, 323, and 333. In this case, the controller109 may maintain the main valve 9 to be in a closed state. When thebypass valve 35 and the first, second, and third opening/closing valves313, 323, and 333 are turned on, the bypass valve 35 and the first,second, and third opening/closing valves 313, 323, and 333 may all beopened.

When the water supply pump 52 is turned on, water of the water tank 51may be discharged from the water tank 51 to pass through the watersupply pump 52, and flow in the water supply heater 53 to be heated bythe water supply heater 53. The water (i.e., hot water) heated by thewater supply heater 53 may flow in the bypass flow path 34, the firstcapsule accommodation part 31, the second capsule accommodation part 32,and the third capsule accommodation part 33 through the water supplyflow path 4. The water flowing in the bypass flow path 34, the firstcapsule accommodation part 31, the second capsule accommodation part 32,and the third capsule accommodation part 33 may flow in the main flowpath 2. The water flowing in the main flow path 2 may pass through thebeverage extraction flow path 61 and then be discharged through thebeverage extraction valve 62.

In the above-described control of the beverage maker, the water supplyflow path 4, the bypass flow path 34, the bypass valve 35, the firstcapsule accommodation part 31, the second capsule accommodation part 32,the third capsule accommodation part 33, the main flow path 2, thebeverage extraction flow path 61, and the beverage extraction valve 62may be cleansed and sterilized by the hot water heated by the watersupply heater 53.

In the beverage maker, the above-described cleansing and sterilizationmay be performed for a cleansing setting time, and the cleansing andsterilizing step (S100) may be completed after the cleansing settingtime. After the cleansing setting time elapses, the controller 109 mayturn off the water supply pump 52 and the water supply heater 53, andturn off all of the bypass valve 35 and the first, second, and thirdopening/closing valves 313, 323, and 333. When the bypass valve 35 andthe first, second, and third opening/closing valves 313, 323, and 333are turned off, all of the bypass valve 35 and the first, second, andthird opening/closing valves 313, 323, and 333 may be closed.

The user may manipulate the beverage extraction valve to be closed suchthat contamination through the beverage extraction valve 62 is blockedin the cleansing and sterilizing step (S100).

In addition, the beverage maker of this implementation may include thebeverage brewing course for brewing beverage.

Hereinafter, the beverage brewing course will be described.

In order to perform the beverage brewing course, the user may mount thebeverage brewing pack 12 in the fermentation tank 112 by opening thefermentation tank cover 114 and inserting the beverage brewing pack 12into the fermentation tank 112. After that, the user may shut thefermentation tank cover 114, and the beverage brewing pack 12 may beaccommodated and kept in the fermentation tank 112 and the fermentationtank cover 114. In addition, the user may insert the plurality ofcapsules C1, C2, and C3 into the supplier 3 and then cover the pluralityof capsule accommodation parts 31, 32, and 33 with the lid module 37before/after the beverage brewing pack 12 is mounted in the fermentationtank 112.

The user may input a beverage brewing command through the input unit,remote controller, or portable terminal provided in the controller 109.The controller 109 may control the beverage maker in the beveragebrewing course as the beverage brewing command is input.

The controller 109 may initiate a water supplying step (S200) ofsupplying water to the beverage brewing pack 12 in the beverage brewingcourse. For example, if the beverage-making apparatus is a beer-maker,then the water supplying step 5200 may be a liquid malt forming step offorming liquid malt by uniformly mixing malt with hot water.

The controller 109, in the water supply step (S200), may turn on thewater supply pump 52 and the water supply heater 53, turn on the bypassvalve 35, and turn on the main valve 9. The controller 109 may open themain valve 9 by turning on the main valve 9 that is in a turn-off state.The controller 109, in the water supplying step (S200), may maintain thefirst, second, and third opening/closing valves 313, 323, and 333 to beturned off. Meanwhile, the controller 109 may turn on the gas extractionvalve 73 when water is supplied to the beverage brewing pack 12.

Water of the water tank 51 may be discharged from the water tank 51 topass through the water supply pump 52, and flow in the water supplyheater 53 to be heated by the water supply heater 53. The water heatedby the water supply heater 53 may flow in the main flow path 2 bypassing through the water supply flow path 4, the bypass flow path 34,and the bypass valve 35. The water flowing in the main flow path 2 maybe introduced into the beverage brewing pack 12 by passing through themain valve 9. The hot water introduced into the beverage brewing pack 12may be mixed with liquidized ingredients (e.g., malt for beer)accommodated in the beverage brewing pack 12, and the liquidizedingredients in the beverage brewing pack 12 may be mixed with water tobe gradually diluted. Meanwhile, since the hot water is supplied to thebeverage brewing pack 12, the liquidized ingredients accommodated in thebeverage brewing pack 12 can be rapidly and uniformly mixed with the hotwater.

In the above-described water supplying step (S200), the bypass flow path34 and the main flow path 2 may be in a state in which the bypass flowpath 34 and the main flow path 2 have already been cleansed andsterilized by the cleansing and sterilizing step (S100), anduncontaminated clean hot water may be supplied to the beverage brewingpack 12.

Meanwhile, in the above-described water supplying step (S200), the watersupply heater 53 preferably heats water to a temperature of 50° C. to70° C., and the controller 109 may control the water supply heater 53according to a temperature sensed by the thermistor 57.

The beverage maker may perform the above-described water supply step(S200) until an amount of water, sensed by the flow meter 56, reaches aset flow rate. If the amount of water, sensed by the flow meter 56,reaches the set flow rate, the water supplying step (S200) may becompleted. When the water supply step (S200) is completed, thecontroller 109 may turn off the water supply pump 52 and the watersupply heater 53, and turn off the bypass valve 35. In addition, thecontroller 109 may turn off the gas extraction valve 73 when the watersupply step (S200) is completed.

The beverage maker, in the above-described water supplying step (S200),may be controlled such that air is introduced into the beverage brewingpack 12.

In addition, the controller 109 may complete the water supply step(S200) by primarily supplying hot water to the inside of the beveragebrewing pack 12, injecting air into the beverage brewing pack 12, andthen secondarily injecting hot water into the beverage brewing pack 12.

As an example of the water supplying step (S200), only a hot watersupplying process may be performed.

As another example of the water supplying step (S200), a primary hotwater supplying process of primarily supplying hot water, an airinjecting process of injecting air, and a secondary hot water supplyingprocess of secondarily injecting hot water may be sequentiallyperformed.

First, the case where only the hot water supplying process is performedas an example of the water supplying step (S200) will be first describedas follows.

When the hot water supplying process is initiated, the controller 109may turn on the water supply pump 52 and the water supply heater 53,turn on the bypass valve 35, and turn on the main valve 9. Thecontroller 109 may turn on the gas extraction valve 73 when the hotwater supplying process is initiated. In addition, when the hot watersupplying process is completed, the controller 109 may turn off thewater supply pump 52 and the water supply heater 53, and turn off thebypass valve 35. The controller 109 may turn off the gas extractionvalve 73 when the hot water supplying process is completed.

Hereinafter, a case where the primary hot water supplying process, theair injecting process, and the secondary hot water supplying process aresequentially performed as another example of the water supplying step(S200) will be described as follows.

When the primary hot water supplying process is initiated, thecontroller 109 may turn on the water supply pump 52 and the water supplyheater 53, turn on the bypass valve 35, and turn on the main valve 9. Inaddition, the controller 109 may turn off the water supply pump 52 andthe water supply heater 53 when the primary hot water supplying processis completed. The controller 109 may maintain the turn-on state of thebypass valve 35 and the main valve 9 when the primary hot watersupplying process is completed. The controller 109 may maintain theturn-on state of the gas extraction valve 73 when the primary hot watersupplying process is completed.

When the air injecting process is initiated, the controller 109 may turnon the air injection pump 82. While the air injection pump 82 is beingturned on, air pumped by the air injection pump 82 may be introducedinto the water supply flow path 4 through the air injection flow path81, and then introduced into the beverage brewing pack 12 through thebypass flow path 34, the main flow path 2, and the main valve 9. The airintroduced into the beverage brewing pack 12 may agitate the liquidizedingredients (e.g., malt in the example of beer) to assist the liquidizedingredients and the hot water to be more uniformly mixed together.

If a pressure sensed by the pressure sensor 72 is equal to or greaterthan a set pressure, the controller 109 may complete the air injectingprocess, and turn off the air injection pump 82 so as to complete theair injecting process. When the air injecting process is completed, thecontroller 109 may maintain the main valve 9, the bypass valve 35, andthe gas extraction valve 73 to be turned on.

When the secondary hot water supplying process is initiated, thecontroller 109 may turn on the water supply pump 52 and the water supplyheater 53. Like the primary water supply process, water of the watertank 51 may be supplied to the beverage brewing pack 12, and new hotwater may be additionally supplied to the beverage brewing pack 12. Thecontroller 109 may determine whether the secondary hot water supplyingprocess has been completed according to a flow rate sensed by the flowmeter 56 during the secondary hot water supplying process. If the flowrate sensed by the flow meter 56 during the secondary hot watersupplying process reaches a set flow rate, the controller 109 maydetermine that the secondary hot water supplying process has beencompleted, turn off the water supply pump 52 and the water supply heater53, and turn off the main valve 9, the bypass valve 35, and the gasextraction valve 73.

Meanwhile, if the water supplying step (S200) is completed, the beveragemaker may perform a fermentation tank cooling step (S300) of cooling thefermentation tank 112.

The controller 109 may control the compressor 131 and the expansiondevice 133 of the refrigeration cycle apparatus 13 so as to cool thefermentation tank 112. A refrigerant compressed by the compressor 131may be condensed by the condenser 132 and then expanded by the expansiondevice 133. The refrigerant expanded by the expansion device 133 maytake heat from the fermentation tank 112 while passing through theevaporator 134, and be evaporated. The refrigerant passing through theevaporator 134 may be sucked into the compressor 131. The fermentationtank 112 may be gradually cooled when the compressor 131 is driven, andthe beverage brewing pack 12 accommodated in the fermentation tank 112and the liquidized ingredients (e.g., malt in the example of beer)accommodated in the beverage brewing pack 12 may be cooled.

When the fermentation tank 112 is cooled as described above, thebeverage maker may cool the beverage brewing pack 12 to a mediumtemperature, e.g., a temperature of 23° C. to 27° C., and the controller109 may control the compressor 131 according to a temperature sensed bythe temperature sensor 16 installed in the fermentation tank 112. If thetemperature sensed by the temperature sensor 16 exceeds a compressor-ontemperature, the controller 109 may turn on the compressor 131. If thetemperature sensed by the temperature sensor 16 is equal to or less thana compressor-off temperature, the controller 109 may turn off thecompressor 131.

If the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor 16 is equal to orless than the compressor-off temperature at least once after theabove-described fermentation tank cooling step S300 is initiated, thebeverage maker may perform a mixing step (S400) of mixing the liquidizedingredients (e.g., malt) by supplying air to the inside of the beveragebrewing pack 12.

The beverage maker may control the compressor 131 to be turned on/offaccording to the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor 16 evenduring the mixing step (S400), and the on/off control of the compressor131 may be continued until additive injecting steps (S500, S600, andS700) which will be describe later are completed.

The controller 109 may turn on the air injection pump 82, and turn onthe bypass valve 35, the main valve 9, and the gas extraction valve 73.While the air injection pump 82 is being turned on, the air pumped bythe air injection pump 82 may be introduced into the water flow path 4through the air injection flow path 81, and then introduced into thebeverage brewing pack 12 through the bypass flow path 34, the main flowpath 2, and the main valve 9. The air introduced into the beveragebrewing pack 12 may bump into liquidized ingredients (e.g., malt) toassist the liquidized ingredients and the hot water to be more uniformlymixed together.

The controller 109 may turn on the air injection pump 82 and mix theliquidized ingredients with air for a mixing set time. If the airinjection pump 82 is turned on and the mixing set time elapses, thecontroller 109 may turn off the air injection pump 82, and turn off thebypass valve 35 and the gas extraction valve 73. If the mixing set timeelapses, the beverage maker may complete the mixing step (S400).

The beverage maker may perform the additive injecting steps (S500, S600,and S700) after the mixing step (S400).

In the additive injecting steps (S500, S600, and S700), the beveragemaker may simultaneously or sequentially inject an additive of the firstcapsule C1, an additive of the second capsule C2, and an additive of thethird capsule C3.

The controller 109 may sequentially perform an additive injectingprocess (S500) of the first capsule C1, an additive injecting process(S600) of the second capsule C2, and an additive injecting process(S700) of the third capsule C3.

In the additive injecting process (S500) of the first capsule C1, thecontroller 109 may turn on the water supply pump 52, the main valve 9,the first extraction valve 313, and the gas extraction valve 73 for afirst additive set time. When the water supply pump 52 is turned on,water of the water tank 51 may be introduced into the first capsule Clby passing through the water supply pump 52, passing through the watersupply heater 53, and then passing through the water supply flow path 4.The water introduced into the first capsule Cl may be mixed with theadditive accommodated in the first capsule C1, flow in the main flowpath together with the additive accommodated in the first capsule C1,and be injected into the beverage brewing pack 12 through the main flowpath 2. If the first additive set time elapses, the controller 109 mayturn off the water supply pump 52 and the first opening/closing valve313, and complete the additive injecting process (S500) of the firstcapsule Cl.

In the additive injecting process (S600) of the second capsule C2, thecontroller 109 may turn on the water supply pump 52 and the secondopening/closing valve 323 for a second additive set time. When the watersupply pump 52 is turned on, water of the water tank 51 may beintroduced into the second capsule C2 by passing through the watersupply pump 52, passing through the water supply heater 53, and thenpassing through the water supply flow path 4. The water introduced intothe second capsule C2 may be mixed with the additive accommodated in thesecond capsule C2, flow in the main flow path 2 together with theadditive accommodated in the second capsule C2, and be injected into thebeverage brewing pack 12 through the main flow path 2. If the secondadditive set time elapses, the controller 109 may turn off the watersupply pump 52 and the second opening/closing valve 323, and completethe additive injecting process (S600) of the second capsule C2.

In the additive injecting process (S700) of the third capsule C3, thecontroller 109 may turn on the water supply pump 52 and the thirdopening/closing valve 333 for a third additive set time. When the watersupply pump 52 is turned on, water of the water tank 51 may beintroduced into the third capsule C3 by passing through the water supplypump 52, passing through the water supply heater 53, and then passingthrough the water supply flow path 4. The water introduced into thethird capsule C3 may be mixed with the additive accommodated in thethird capsule C3, flow in the main flow path 2 together with theadditive accommodated in the third capsule C3, and be injected into thebeverage brewing pack 12 through the main flow path 2. If the thirdadditive set time elapses, the controller 109 may turn off the watersupply pump 52 and the third opening/closing valve 333, and complete theadditive injecting process (S700) of the third capsule C3.

If all of the additive injecting steps (S500, S600, and S700) arecompleted, the beverage maker may perform a supplier remaining waterremoving step (S800) of removing remaining water in the supplier 3.

In the supplier remaining water removing step (S800), the controller 109may turn on the air injection pump 82, turn on the first opening/closingvalve 313, the second opening/closing valve 323, and the thirdopening/closing valve 333, and turn on the main valve 9 and the gasextraction valve 73.

When the air injection pump is turned on, air may pass through the airinjection flow path 81 and the water supply flow path 4 and then besupplied to the first capsule accommodation part 31, the second capsuleaccommodation part 32, and the third capsule accommodation part 33, toblow water remaining in the first capsule accommodation part 31, thesecond capsule accommodation part 32, and the third capsuleaccommodation part 33. The air may be moved to the beverage brewing pack12 together with the remaining water moved in the first capsuleaccommodation part 31, the second capsule accommodation part 32, and thethird capsule accommodation part 33.

The controller 109 may turn on the air injection pump for a remainingwater removing set time. If the remaining water removing set timeelapses, the controller 109 may turn off the air injection pump 82, andturn off the first opening/closing valve 313, the second opening/closingvalve 323, the third opening/closing valve 333, the main valve 9, andthe gas extraction valve 73.

If the remaining water removing set time elapses, the beverage maker maycomplete the supplier remaining water removing step (S800).

After the supplier remaining water removing step (S800) is completed,the beverage maker may sequentially perform a first fermentation step(S900) and a second fermentation step (S1000).

In the primary fermentation step (S900), the controller 109 may controlthe compressor 131 to a primary fermentation target temperature, andcontrol the compressor 131 such that the temperature sensed by thetemperature sensor 16 maintains a primary fermentation set temperaturerange. After the first fermentation step (S900) is initiated, thecontroller 109 may periodically turn on and then turn off the gasextraction valve 73, and store a pressure sensed by the pressure sensor72 in a data storage part while the gas extraction valve 73 is beingturned on. If a change in pressure periodically sensed by the pressuresensor 72 exceeds a primary fermentation set pressure, the controller109 may determine that primary fermentation has been completed, andcomplete the primary fermentation step (S900).

After the primary fermentation step (S900) is completed, the controller109 may initiate the secondary fermentation step (S1000). In thesecondary fermentation step (S1000), the controller 109 may control thecompressor 131 to a secondary fermentation target temperature, andcontrol the compressor 131 such that the temperature sensed by thetemperature sensor 16 maintains a secondary fermentation set temperaturerange. After the second fermentation step (S1000) is initiated, thecontroller 109 may periodically turn on and then turn off the gasextraction valve 73, and store a pressure sensed by the pressure sensor72 in the data storage part while the gas extraction valve 73 is beingturned on. If a change in pressure periodically sensed by the pressuresensor 72 exceeds a secondary fermentation set pressure, the controller109 may determine that secondary fermentation has been completed, andcomplete the secondary fermentation step (S1000).

If both of the primary fermentation step (S900) and the secondaryfermentation step (S1000) are completed, the beverage maker may performa ripening step (S1100).

In the ripening step (S1100), the controller 109 may wait during aripening time, and control the compressor 131 such that the temperatureof beverage maintains between an upper limit value of a set ripeningtemperature and a lower limit value of the set ripening temperatureduring the ripening time. If the temperature sensed by the temperaturesensor 16 is equal to or less than the lower limit value of the setripening temperature, the controller 109 may turn off the compressor131. If the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor 16 is equal toor greater than the upper limit value of the set ripening temperature,the controller 109 may turn on the compressor 131.

In the beverage maker, if the ripening time elapses, all of the steps ofbrewing beverage may be completed, and the user may extract the beverageby manipulating the beverage extraction valve 62.

If the user manipulates the beverage extraction valve 62 to be opened,the micro switch 630 may be point-contacted, and the controller 109 mayopen the main valve 9 in the state in which all of the steps of brewingthe beverage are completed. In addition, the controller 109 may turn onthe air pump 152 and the air control valve 156.

When the air pump 152 is turned on, air may be supplied to the inside ofthe fermentation tank assembly 11 through the air supply flow path 154.The air supplied to the inside of the fermentation tank assembly 11 maypressurize the beverage ingredient pack 12. When the beverage ingredientpack 12 is pressurized by the air, beverage of which fermentation andripening have been completed in the beverage ingredient pack 12 may flowin the main flow path 2. The beverage flowing in the main flow path 2may pass through the beverage extraction flow path 61, flow in thebeverage extraction valve 62, and then be extracted to the outsidethrough the beverage extraction valve 62.

FIG. 23 is a block diagram illustrating a control configuration of thebeverage maker according to the implementation.

Referring to FIG. 23, the beverage-making apparatus may include at leastone processor, which may be configured as a controller, that performsone or more of the control operations of the apparatus. For example, thecontroller 109 may sense on/off of the micro switch 630, which controlsbeverage extraction. Also, the controller 109 may receive measurementvalues from the flow meter 56, the thermistor 57, the pressure sensor72, and the temperature sensor 16.

The micro switch 630, which is turned on/off according toopening/closing of the beverage extraction valve 62, may be provided inthe beverage extraction valve 62. The controller 109 may receive anon/off signal of the micro switch 630.

The water supply module 5 may include the flow meter 56 that measures aflow rate of the water supply pump outlet flow path 55, and thecontroller 109 may receive information on a flow rate measured by theflow meter 56.

The water supply module 5 may include the thermistor 57 that measures atemperature of the water supply heater 53 or a temperature of hot waterheated by the water supply heater 53, and the controller 109 may receiveinformation on a temperature measured by the thermistor 57. In someimplementations, the thermistor 57 may be installed in at least one ofthe water supply heater 53 or the water supply flow path 4.

The gas discharger 7 may include the pressure sensor 72 installed in thegas extraction flow path 71. The pressure sensor 72 may measure apressure in the beverage brewing pack 12. The controller 109 may receiveinformation on a pressure measured by the pressure sensor 72.

The fermentation module 1 may include the temperature sensor 16 capableof measuring a temperature of the fermentation tank assembly 11. Thecontroller 109 may receive information on a temperature measured by thetemperature sensor 16.

In some implementations, the controller 109 may control open/closeoperations of various types of valves included in the beverage maker.Each of the valves may be opened when the valve is turned on, and closedwhen the valve is turned off.

In more detail, the controller 109 may control on/off of the first,second, and third opening/closing valves 313, 323, and 333, the mainvalve 9, the bypass valve 35, the gas extraction valve 73, and the aircontrol valve 156.

The controller 109 may control on/off of the first, second, and thirdopening/closing valves 313, 323, and 333. The first, second, and thirdopening/closing valves 313, 323, and 333 may be installed in the first,second, and third supplier entrance flow paths 311, 321, and 331,respectively. When the first, second, and third supplier entrance flowpaths 311, 321, and 331 are turned on, water or air flowing in the watersupply flow path 4 may be introduced into each of the first, second, andthird capsule accommodation parts 31, 32, and 33 of the supplier 3. Onthe other hand, when the first, second, and third supplier entrance flowpaths 311, 321, and 331 are turned off, the water or air flowing in thewater supply flow path 4 cannot be introduced into each of the first,second, and third capsule accommodation parts 31, 32, and 33 of thesupplier 3.

The controller 109 may control on/off of the main valve 9. The mainvalve 9 may be installed in the main flow path 2, and be installedposterior to the connecting part 91 of the main flow path 2 and thebeverage extraction flow path 61 according to the flowing direction ofwater or air. When the main valve 9 is turned on, water or air flowingin the main flow path 2 may be introduced into the beverage brewing pack12, and beverage may be extracted from the beverage brewing pack 12. Onthe other hand, when the main valve 9 is turned off, the water or airflowing in the main flow path 2 cannot be introduced into the beveragebrewing pack 12, and the beverage cannot be extracted from the beveragebrewing pack 12.

The controller 109 may control on/off of the bypass valve 35. The bypassvalve 35 may be installed in the bypass flow path 34. When the bypassvalve 34 is turned on, water or air flowing in the water supply flowpath 4 may flow in the main flow path 2 through the bypass flow path 34.On the other hand, when the bypass valve 34 is turned off, the water orair flowing in the water supply flow path cannot flow in the main flowpath 2 through the bypass flow path 34.

The controller 109 may control on/off of the gas extraction valve 73.The gas extraction valve 73 may be installed in the gas extraction flowpath 71. The gas extraction valve 73 may be installed posterior to thepressure sensor 72 according to the flowing direction of gas in the gasextraction flow path 71. When the gas extraction valve 73 is turned on,air or gas in the beverage brewing pack 12 may flow to the outside ofthe beverage brewing pack 12 through the gas extraction flow path 71,and a pressure in the beverage brewing pack 12 may be maintained equalor similar to the external atmospheric pressure.

On the other hand, when the gas extraction valve 73 is turned off, theair or gas in the beverage brewing pack 12 cannot flow to the outside ofthe beverage brewing pack 12 through the gas extraction flow path 71,and the pressure in the beverage brewing pack 12 may become higher thanthe external atmospheric pressure.

The controller 109 may control on/off of the air control valve 156. Theair control valve 156 may be installed in the air supply flow path 154.When the air control valve 156 is turned on, air may be introduced intoor discharged from the fermentation tank 112 through the air supply flowpath 154 by an operation of the air pump 152. On the other hand, whenthe air control valve 156 is turned off, the air cannot be introducedinto or discharged from the fermentation tank 112 through the air supplyflow path 154.

Meanwhile, the controller 109 may control the water supply pump 52, thewater supply heater 53, the air injection pump 82, the refrigerationcycle apparatus 13, the heater 14, and the air pump 152.

The controller 109 may control the water supply pump 52. The controller109 may control on/off of the water supply pump 52, and control a flowrate of water flowed by the water supply pump 52. When the water supplypump 52 is turned on, water of the water tank 51 may flow in the watersupply flow path 4 by passing through the water supply pump 52.

The controller 109 may control the water supply heater 53. Thecontroller 109 may control on/off of the water supply heater 53, andcontrol a temperature of the water supply heater 53. When the watersupply heater 53 is turned on, water passing through the water supplypump 52 may be heated by the water supply heater 53 to flow in the watersupply flow path 4.

The controller 109 may control the air injection pump 82. The controller109 may control on/off of the air injection pump 82, and control a flowrate of air flowed by the air injection pump 82. When the air injectionpump 82 is turned on, air passing through the air injection pump 82 maybe injected into the air injection flow path 81, and flow in the watersupply flow path 4 through the air injection flow path 81.

The controller 109 may control a temperature controller. In more detail,the controller 109 may control the refrigeration cycle apparatus 13 andthe heater 14. The controller 109 may control on/off of therefrigeration cycle apparatus 13 and the heater 14, and control atemperature of the fermentation tank 112 heated or cooled by therefrigeration cycle apparatus 13 and the heater 14.

A case where the evaporator 134 is installed to be in contact with thefermentation tank 112 will be described as an example. If the compressor131 of the refrigeration cycle apparatus 13 is operated, the temperatureof the fermentation tank 112 may decrease as a heat exchange isperformed between the evaporator 134 and the outer surface of thefermentation tank 112. On the other hand, when the heater 14 is turnedon, the temperature of the fermentation tank 112 may increase as theheater 14 supplies heat to the outer surface of the fermentation tank112.

The controller 109 may control the air pump 152. The controller 109 maycontrol on/off of the air pump 152, and control the flow rate anddirection of air flowing in the air supply flow path 154 by the air pump152. If the air pump 152 is operated to supply air to the fermentationtank 112, the air passing through the air pump 152 may flow in the airsupply flow path 154 to be injected into the fermentation tank 112. Onthe other hand, if the air pump 152 is operated to discharge air of thefermentation tank 112, the air in the fermentation tank 112 may bedischarged through the air supply flow path 154.

Some of the components controllable by the controller 109 may beomitted, changed, or added as appropriate.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a control sequence ofa supplying step in a beverage brewing method of the beverage makeraccording to some implementations.

Hereinafter, a beverage brewing method of the beverage maker will bedescribed, and the water supplying step (S200) in the beverage brewingmethod will be described in detail.

The controller 109 may include the display 109D that displays a currentcontrol course of the beverage maker, a beverage completion estimatedtime, a user notification window, and the like. The display 109D may bea touch screen to which an input of the user can be applied.Hereinafter, a case where both of the display 109D and the input unitare provided in the controller 109 will be described as an example.

The user may input a beverage brewing command through the input unitprovided in the controller 109, a remote controller, a portableterminal, or the like. The controller 109 may control the beverage makerin the beverage brewing course according to the beverage brewingcommand.

The beverage brewing method may include the cleansing and sterilizingstep (S100), and performed separately from the cleansing and sterilizingstep (S100). That is, if the user input the beverage brewing command,the controller 109 may control the beverage maker according to thecleansing and sterilizing step (S100) and then initiate the watersupplying step (S200). The controller 109 may omit the cleansing andsterilizing step (S100) and immediately initiate the water supplyingstep (S200).

The beverage brewing method may include the water supplying step (S200).

In the example of the beverage-making apparatus being a beer maker, thewater supplying step 5200 may be a liquid malt forming step of formingliquid malt by uniformly mixing malt in the beer brewing pack 12 withhot water.

Referring to FIG. 24, as a first example, the water supplying step(S200) may include a primary hot water supplying step (S210) ofprimarily supplying hot water, a primary air injecting step (S230) ofprimarily injecting air, a secondary hot water supplying step (S250) ofsecondarily injecting how water, and a secondary air injecting step(S270) of secondarily injecting air, and the steps may be sequentiallyperformed. However, the secondary air injecting step (S250) may beomitted.

In this case, the controller 109 may complete the water supplying step(S200) by primarily supplying hot water to the inside of the beveragebrewing pack 12, primarily injecting air into the beverage brewing pack12, secondarily supplying hot water to the inside of the beveragebrewing pack 12, and then secondarily injecting air into the beveragebrewing pack 12.

Water to be supplied to the beverage brewing pack 12 is not supplied ata time but supplied twice through the primary hot water supplying step(S210) and the secondary hot water supplying step (S230), and the airinjecting step (S230 or 5250) is performed whenever each hot watersupplying step (S210 or S230) is completed, so that the liquidizedingredients (e.g., malt in the example of a beer-maker) in the beveragebrewing pack 12 can be more uniformly mixed with hot water.

FIG. 25 is a flowchart illustrating a control sequence according to afirst implementation of the primary hot water supplying step shown inFIG. 24.

Referring to FIG. 25, the controller 109 may initiate the primary hotwater supplying step (S210) of supplying hot water to the beveragebrewing pack 12 in the fermentation tank assembly 11.

The primary hot water supplying step (S210) may include control steps(S211, S212, S213, S214, S215, S216, S217, S2189, S219, and S220) whichwill be described later.

If the primary hot water supplying step (S210) is initiated, thecontroller 109 may determine whether the micro switch 630 of thebeverage extraction valve 62 is in an off-state (S211).

If the micro switch 630 is turned on, the controller 109 may control thewater supply pump 52 and the water supply heater 53 to maintain theoff-state, and display an error signal on the display 109D (S212).

If the water supply pump 52 and the water supply heater 53 had beenpreviously in an on-state, the controller 109 may turn off the watersupply pump 52 and the water supply heater 53.

The error signal may include a notification that the beverage extractionvalve 62 is to be closed. In addition, the error signal may include anotification that the rotating lever 620 is to be returned to theoriginal position.

If the user turns the rotating lever 620 to the original position byviewing the notification displayed on the display 109D, the micro switch630 may be turned off as the lifting valve body 610 included in thebeverage extraction valve 62 moves down, and the manipulating projection614 being point-contacted with the micro switch 630 moves down togetherwith the lifting valve body 610.

In the entire water supplying step (S200), if the micro switch 630 isturned on during the control, the controller 109 may turn off the watersupply pump 52 and the water supply heater 53. The controller 109 maydisplay an error signal on the display 109D. For example, this may occurif the micro switch 630 is turned on during the beverage brewing course,water or air is not introduced into the beverage brewing pack 12 in thefermentation tank assembly 11 but discharged to the beverage extractionvalve 62 through the beverage extraction flow path 61 during beveragebrewing.

Meanwhile, if the micro switch 630 is turned off, the controller 109 mayturn on the bypass valve 35, the gas extraction valve 73, the main valve9, and the air control valve 156 (S213).

In this case, the first, second, and third opening/closing valves 313,323, and 333 may be in the off-state. The user may have already mountedthe first, second, and third capsules C1, C2, and C3 in the respectivefirst, second, and third capsule accommodation parts 31, 32, and 33 ofthe supplier 3. In the water supplying step (S200), the first, second,and third opening/closing valves 313, 323, and 333 may be in theoff-state such that an additive and the like, accommodated in eachcapsule are not extracted.

When the bypass valve 35, the gas extraction valve 73, the main valve 9,and the air control valve 156 are turned on, all of the bypass valve 35,the gas extraction valve 73, the main valve 9, and the air control valve156 may be opened. In addition, when the first, second, and thirdopening/closing valve 313, 323, and 333 are turned off, the first,second, and third opening/closing valve 313, 323, and 333 may be closed.

As described above, the controller 109 may turn on the gas extractionvalve 73 to extract gas from the beverage brewing pack 12. Hot waterintroduced into the beverage brewing pack 12 may be mixed withliquidized ingredients (e.g., malt in the example of beer-making)accommodated in the beverage brewing pack 12, and the liquidizedingredients (e.g., malt) in the beverage brewing pack 12 may be mixedwith water to be gradually diluted. In this process, gas caused bybubbles may be generated. The pressure in the beverage brewing pack 12may be increased due to the gas, and the controller 109 may turn on thegas extraction valve 73 so as to prevent the increase in pressure.

If the gas extraction valve 73 is turned on, the gas generated in thebeverage brewing pack 12 may flow in the gas extraction flow path 71 inthe beverage brewing pack 12, and the gas flowing in the gas extractionflow path 71 may flow to the gas discharger 7 through the gas extractionvalve 73.

The flexible container 420 of the beverage brewing pack 12 may beinstalled in the fermentation tank 112 in a compact state by beingfolded or compressed. In this case, if water is supplied to the flexiblecontainer 420 of the beverage brewing pack 12, the flexible container420 may be unfolded or expanded.

Meanwhile, after the bypass valve 35, the gas extraction valve 73, themain valve 9, and the air control valve 156 are turned on, thecontroller 109 may turn on the water supply pump 52 and the water supplyheater 53 (S214).

The controller 109 may simultaneously turn on the bypass valve 35, thegas extraction valve 73, the main valve 9, and the air control valve156, the water supply pump 52, and the water supply heater 53.

When the water supply pump 52 is turned on, water of the water tank 51may be discharged therefrom to pass through the water supply pump 52,and flow in the water supply heater 53 to be heated by the water supplyheater 53. The water (i.e., hot water) heated by the water supply heater53 may flow in the main flow path 2 by passing through the bypass flowpath 34 and the bypass valve 35 through the water supply flow path 4.The water flowing in the main flow path 2 may be introduced into thebeverage brewing pack 12 in the fermentation tank 112 by passing throughthe main valve 9.

The hot water introduced into the beverage brewing pack 12 may be mixedwith liquidized ingredients (e.g., malt in the example of a beer-maker)accommodated in the beverage brewing pack 12, and the liquidizedingredients in the beverage brewing pack 12 may be mixed with water tobe gradually diluted. Meanwhile, since the hot water is supplied to theinside of the beverage brewing pack 12, the liquidized ingredients(e.g., malt) accommodated in the beverage brewing pack 12 can be rapidlyand uniformly mixed with the hot water.

When the water is supplied as described above, the bypass flow path 34and the main flow path 2 may have already been cleansed and sterilizedin the cleansing and sterilizing step (S100). Clean hot water that isnot contaminated may be supplied to the beverage brewing pack 12.

Meanwhile, after or at the same time when the water supply pump 52 andthe water supply heater 53 are turned on, the controller 109 may start atimer (S215).

The controller 109 may determine whether a time of the timer hasexceeded a preset first time t1 (S216).

In this case, a flow rate of water measured by the flow meter 56 may bea flow rate per unit time.

A first flow rate M1 is preferably about 0.1 LPM (liter per minute).

If the water supply pump 52 is turned on, the flow rate of the watersupply outlet flow path 55 may be gradually increased to converge to aspecific flow rate. In order to measure a flow rate based on theconverged flow rate, the controller 109 may determine whether a flowrate measured by the flow meter 56 when a predetermined time elapsesafter the water supply pump 52 is turned on is greater that the firstflow rate M1.

If the flow rate measured by the flow meter 56 is equal to or less thanthe first flow rate M1,the controller 109 may turn off the water supplyheater 53 (S218).

If the flow rate measured by the flow meter 56 is equal to or less thanthe first flow rate M1, this may mean that there is no water in thewater tank 51 or that water in the water tank 51 is insufficient.Alternatively, this may mean that the water supply pump 52 or the flowmeter 56 is not normally operated.

The controller 109 may display, on the display 109D, a notification thatwater is to be supplied to the water tank 51. In order to prevent thewater supply heater 53 from being overheated, the controller 109 mayturn off the water supply heater 53.

The user may fill water in the water tank 51 by viewing the notificationdisplayed on the display 109D. In this case, if the user opens the watertank lid 108, the controller 109 may turn off the water supply pump 52.If the user fills water in the water tank 51 and then closes the watertank lid 108, the controller 109 may turn on the water supply pump 52.

Meanwhile, if the flow rate measured by the flow meter 56 is greaterthan the first flow rate M1, the controller 109 may determine whether atemperature measured by the thermistor 57 installed in the water supplyheater 53 is higher than a first set temperature K1 (S219).

The thermistor 57 that measures a temperature of the water supply heater53 may be installed in the water supply heater 53. Alternatively, thethermistor 57 that measures a temperature of hot water heated by thewater supply heater 53 may be installed in the water supply heater 53.

The controller 109 may determine whether the temperature measured by thethermistor 57 is higher than the first set temperature K1 for everyspecific time period.

After the water supply heater 53 is turned on, the temperature may begradually increased. Before the temperature of the water supply heater53 reaches the first set temperature K1, the hot water heated by thewater supply heater 53 may flow in the water supply flow path 4, thebypass flow path 34, the bypass valve 35, the main flow path 2, and themain valve 9 to be introduced into the beverage brewing pack 12.

The first set temperature K1 is preferably set to about 60° C.

If the temperature measured by the thermistor 57 is equal to or lessthan the first set temperature K1, the water supply heater 53 and thewater supply pump 52 may be maintained in the on-state, and the bypassvalve 35, the main valve 9, the gas extraction valve 73, and the aircontrol valve 156 may also be maintained in the on-state.

If a predetermined time elapses again, the controller 109 may againdetermine whether the flow rate measured by the flow meter 56 is greaterthan the first flow rate M1 (S217). If the flow rate measured by theflow meter 56 is greater than the first flow rate M1, the controller 109may determine whether the temperature measured by the thermistor 57installed in the water supply heater 53 is higher than the first settemperature K1 (S219).

In addition, if the time of the timer does not exceed the first time t1even when the temperature measured by the thermistor 57 is higher thanthe first set temperature K1, the controller 109 may turn off the watersupply pump 52 and the water supply heater 53 (S220). The timer may beended. Accordingly, the primary hot water supplying step (S210) may becompleted, and the first air injecting step (S230) may be initiated.

FIG. 26 is a flowchart illustrating a detailed control sequence of theprimary air injecting step shown in FIG. 24.

The primary air injecting step (S230) may include control steps S231,S232, S233, and S234 which will be described later.

Referring to FIG. 26, the controller 109 may initiate the first airinjecting step (S230) of injecting air into the beverage brewing pack 12in the fermentation tank assembly 11.

If the primary air injecting step (S230) is initiated, the controller109 may turn off the gas extraction valve 73 and turn on the airinjection pump 82 (S231).

If the air injection pump 82 of the air injector 8 is turned on, air atthe outside of the beverage maker may flow in the air injection flowpath 81 via the air injection pump 82 as the air injection pump 82 isoperated. Since the first, second, and third opening/closing valves 313,323, and 333 are in the off-state and the bypass valve 35 is in theon-state, the air flowing in the air injection flow path 81 may flow inthe bypass flow path 34 and the main flow path 2 via the bypass valve35, and be introduced into the beverage brewing pack 12 via the mainvalve 9.

The air introduced into the beverage brewing pack 12 may bump intoliquidized ingredients (e.g., malt in the example of a beer-maker) toassist the liquidized ingredients and the hot water to be more uniformlymixed together.

If the gas extraction valve 73 is turned off, the gas extraction valve73 may be closed. Therefore, the air introduced into the beveragebrewing pack 12 cannot be discharged to the outside of the beveragebrewing pack 12 through the gas extraction flow path 71. That is, thepressure in the beverage brewing pack 12 may be gradually increased.

If the pressure in the beverage brewing pack 12 is increased, the mixingof the liquidized ingredients (e.g., malt in the example of abeer-maker) and the hot water in the beverage brewing pack 12 may bemore actively performed.

The controller 109 may determine whether a pressure measured by thepressure sensor 72 installed in the gas extraction flow path 71 ishigher than a preset first set pressure P1 (S232).

If the pressure measured by the pressure sensor 72 is equal to or lessthan the first set pressure P1, the air may be continuously injectedinto the beverage brewing pack 12 by the air injection pump 82.

If the pressure measured by the pressure sensor 72 is higher than thefirst set pressure P1, the controller 109 may turn on the gas extractionvalve 73, and turn off the air injection pump 82 (S233).

If the gas extraction valve 73 is turned on, the air in the beveragebrewing pack 12 is discharged through the gas extraction flow path 71,and therefore, the pressure in the beverage brewing pack 12 may belowered.

The controller 109 may determine whether the pressure measured by thepressure sensor 72 is lower than a preset second set pressure P2 (S234).

If the pressure measured by the pressure sensor 72 is lower than thesecond set pressure P2 as the pressure in the beverage brewing pack 12is sufficiently lowered, the controller 109 may complete the primary airinjecting step (S230) and initiate the secondary hot water supplyingstep (S250).

According to an example of the first air injecting step (S230) of thebeverage maker, a parameter determining whether the air in the beveragebrewing pack 12 is continuously injected by the air injection pump 82may be the pressure measured by the pressure sensor 72.

On the other hand, according to another example of the first airinjecting step (S230) of the beverage maker, a parameter determiningwhether the air in the beverage brewing pack 12 is continuously injectedby the air injection pump 82 may be a time that elapses after the airinjecting pump 82 is operated. That is, if a preset time elapses afterthe air injection pump 82 is operated, the controller 109 may turn offthe air injection pump 82.

FIG. 27 is a flowchart illustrating a control sequence according to afirst implementation of the secondary hot water supplying step shown inFIG. 24.

The secondary hot water supplying step (S250) may include control steps(S251, S252, S253, S254, S255, S256, and S257) which will be describedlater.

Referring to FIG. 27, the controller 109 may initiate the secondary hotwater supplying step (S250) of supplying hot water to the beveragebrewing pack 12 in the fermentation tank assembly 11.

Since the secondary hot water supplying step (S250) is similar to theabove-described primary hot water supplying step (S210), descriptions ofoverlapping portions will be omitted.

If the secondary hot water supplying step (S250) is initiated, thecontroller 109 may turn on the water supply pump 52 and the water supplyheater 53 (S251).

The controller 109 may start the timer (S252).

The controller 109 may determine whether a time of the timer hasexceeded a second time t2 (S253).

If the time of the timer is prior to the second time t2, the controller109 may determine whether a flow rate measured by the flow meter 56 isgreater than a second flow rate M2 (S254).

The second flow rate M2 is preferably about 0.1 LPM (liter per minute).

The controller 109 may determine whether a flow rate measured by theflow meter 56 when a predetermined time elapses after the water supplypump 52 is turned on is greater than the second flow rate M2.

If the flow rate measured by the flow meter 56 is equal to or less thanthe second flow rate M2, the controller 109 may turn off the watersupply heater 53 (S255).

If the flow rate measured by the flow meter 56 is equal to or less thanthe second flow rate M2, this may mean that there is no water in thewater tank 51 or that water in the water tank 51 is insufficient.Alternatively, this may mean that the water supply pump 52 or the flowmeter 56 is not normally operated.

The controller 109 may display, on the display 109D, a notification thatwater is to be supplied to the water tank 51.

Meanwhile, if the flow rate measured by the flow meter 56 is greaterthan the second flow rate M2, the controller 109 may determine whether atemperature measured by the thermistor 57 installed in the water supplyheater 53 is higher than a second set temperature K2 (S256).

The controller 109 may determine whether a temperature measured by thethermistor 57 is higher than the second set temperature K2 for everytime period.

Until before the temperature of the water supply heater 53 reaches thesecond set temperature K2, hot water heated by the water supply heater53 may flow in the water supply flow path 4, the bypass flow path 34,the bypass valve 35, the main flow path 2, and the main valve 9 to beintroduced into the beverage brewing pack 12.

The second set temperature K is preferably about 60° C.

If the temperature measured by the thermistor 57 is equal to or lessthan the second set temperature, the water supply heater 53 and thewater supply pump 53 may be maintained in the on-state, and the bypassvalve 35, the main valve 9, the gas extraction valve 73, and the aircontrol valve 156 may also be maintained in the on-state.

If a predetermined time elapses again, the controller 109 may againdetermine whether a flow rate measured by the flow meter 56 is greaterthan the second flow rate M2 (S254). If the flow rate measured by theflow meter 56 is greater than the second flow rate M2, the controller109 may determine whether a temperature measured by the thermistor 57installed in the water supply heater 53 is higher than the second settemperature K2 (S256).

In addition, if the time of the timer does not reach the second time t2even when the temperature measured by the thermistor 57 is higher thanthe second set temperature K2, the hot water may be continuouslyintroduced into the beverage brewing pack 12.

Meanwhile, if the temperature measured by the thermistor 57 is higherthan the second set temperature K2, and the time of the timer exceedsthe second time t2, the controller 109 may turn off the water supplypump 52 and the water supply heater 53 (S257). The timer may be ended.Accordingly, the secondary hot water supplying step (S250) may becompleted.

FIG. 28 is a flowchart illustrating a detailed control sequence of thesecondary air injecting step shown in FIG. 24.

The secondary air injecting step (S270) may include steps (S271, S272,S273, S274, and S275).

Referring to FIG. 28, the controller 109 may initiate the secondary airinjecting step (S270) of injecting air into the beverage brewing pack 12in the fermentation tank assembly 11.

The controller 109 may turn on the air injection pump (S271).

If the air injection pump 82 of the air injector 8 is turned on, air atthe outside of the beverage maker may flow in the air injection flowpath 81 via the air injection pump 82 as the air injection pump 82 isoperated. Since the first, second, and third opening/closing valves 313,323, and 333 are in the off-state and the bypass valve 35 is in theon-state, the air flowing in the air injection flow path 81 may flow inthe bypass flow path 34 and the main flow path 2 by passing through thebypass valve 35, and be introduced into the beverage brewing pack 12 viathe main valve 9.

In this case, unlike the primary air injecting step (230), thecontroller 109 may control the gas extraction valve 73 to be maintainedin the on-state. Like the primary air injecting step (S230), thecontroller 109 may turn off the gas extraction valve 73.

The controller 109 may start the timer (S272).

The controller 109 may determine whether a time of the timer hasexceeded a third time t3 (S273).

Until before the time of the timer reaches the third time t3, the airmay be continuously injected into the beverage brewing pack 12 as theair injection pump 82 is operated.

If the time of the timer exceeds the third time t3, the controller 109may turn off the air injection pump 82 (S274). The timer may be ended.

The controller 109 may turn off the gas extraction valve 73, the mainvalve 9, and the air control valve 156 (S275).

Accordingly, the secondary air injecting step (S270) may be completed,and the water supplying step (S200) may be completed.

FIG. 29 is a flowchart illustrating a control sequence according to asecond implementation of the primary hot water supplying step shown inFIG. 24.

Hereinafter, contents overlapping with the first implementation of theprimary hot water supplying step (S210) are omitted, and differencesfrom the first implementation of the primary hot water supplying step(S210) will be mainly described.

Referring to FIG. 29, the primary hot water supplying step (S210′)according to this implementation may include control steps (S211′ toS220′).

If the primary hot water supplying step (S210′) is initiated, thecontroller 109 may determine whether the micro switch 630 of thebeverage extraction valve 62 is in the off-state (S211′).

If the micro switch 630 is turned on, the controller 109 may control thewater supply pump 52 and the water supply heater 53 to be maintained inthe off-state, and display an error signal on the display 109D (S212′).

If the micro switch 630 is turned off, the controller 109 may turn onthe bypass valve 35, the gas extraction valve 73, the main valve 9, andthe air control valve 156 (S213′).

The controller 109 may turn on the water supply pump 52 (S214′).

When the water supply pump 52 is turned on, water of the water tank 51may be discharged from the water tank 51 to pass through the watersupply pump 52. The water flowed by the water supply pump 52 may beintroduced into the water supply flow path 4 by passing through thewater supply heater 53.

The controller 109 may determine whether a flow rate measured by theflow meter 56 is within an error range of the first set flow rate M1(S215′). In this case, the error range may mean a predeterminednumerical value range (between M1−a and M1+a) based on the first setflow rate M1.

The flow meter 56 that measures a flow rate of the water supply pumpoutlet flow path 55 may be installed in the water supply pump outletflow path 55. The flow meter 56 may measure a flow rate of waterintroduced into the water supply heater 53.

If a flow rate measured by the flow meter 56 is greater by apredetermined numerical value “a” or more than the first set flow rateM1, the controller 109 may control a number of revolutions of the watersupply pump 52 to be decreased. If the flow rate measured by the flowmeter 56 is smaller by the predetermined numerical value “a” or morethan the first set flow rate M1, the controller 109 may control thenumber of revolutions of the water supply pump 52 to be increased.

If the flow rate measured by the flow meter 56 is within the error rangeof the first set flow rate M1, the controller 109 may turn on the watersupply heater 53 (S216′).

Hot water heated by the water supply heater 53 may flow in the bypassflow path 34 through the water supply flow path 4. The hot water flowingin the bypass flow path 34 may be introduced into the beverage brewingpack 12 in the fermentation tank assembly 11 through the main flow path2.

The controller 109 may determine whether a temperature measured by thethermistor 57 is within an error range of the first set temperature K1(S217′). In this case, the error range may mean a predeterminednumerical value range (between K1−b and K1+b) based on the first settemperature K1.

The thermistor 57 may be installed in at least one of the water supplyheater 53 and the water supply flow path 4, and measure a temperature ofwater passing through the water supply heater 53.

If the temperature measured by the thermistor 57 is higher by apredetermined numerical value “b” or more than the first set temperatureK1, the controller 109 may control a caloric value of the water supplyheater 53 to be decreased. If the temperature measured by the thermistor57 is lower by the predetermined numerical value “b” or more than thefirst set temperature K1, the controller 109 may control the caloricvalue of the water supply heater 53 to be increased.

If the temperature measured by the thermistor 57 is within the errorrange of the first set temperature K1, the controller 109 may start thetimer and store a first initial flow rate in the data storage part(S218′).

The first initial flow rate may mean a flow rate measured by the flowmeter 56 when the timer is started.

The controller 109 may determine whether a calculated injection amountof hot water is equal to or greater than a first set injection amount Z1(S219′).

The calculated injection amount may be calculated by the controller 109,and mean a volume of hot water injected into the beverage brewing pack12 from after the timer is started.

The first set injection amount Z1 may mean a preset volume of hot water.

For example, the controller 109 may calculate a calculated injectionamount by multiplying an elapsed time of the timer by an average valveof the flow rate measured by the flow meter 56 and the first initialflow rate stored in the data storage part. In addition, the controller109 may compare the calculated injection amount with the first setinjection amount Z1. However, it is obvious that the controller 109 mayevaluate the calculated injection amount using another method.

If the calculated injection amount is smaller than the first setinjection amount Z1, the hot water may be continuously introduced intothe beverage brewing pack 12.

If the calculated injection amount is equal to or greater than the firstset injection amount Z1, the controller 109 may turn off the watersupply pump 52 and the water supply heater 53 (S220′). The timer may beended. Accordingly, the primary hot water supplying step (S210′) may becompleted, and the primary air injecting step (S230) may be initiated.

FIG. 30 is a flowchart illustrating a control sequence according to asecond implementation of the secondary hot water supplying step shown inFIG. 24.

Hereinafter, descriptions of contents overlapping with those describedabove will be omitted.

The controller 109 may turn on the water supply pump (S251′).

The controller 109 may determine whether a flow rate measured by theflow meter 56 is within an error range of the second set flow rate M2(S252′). In this case, the error range may mean a predeterminednumerical value range (between M2−a and M2+a) based on the second setflow rate M2.

If the flow rate measured by the flow meter 56 is greater by thepredetermined numerical value “a” or more than the second set flow rateM2, the controller 109 may control a number of revolutions of the watersupply pump 52 to be decreased. If the flow rate measured by the flowmeter 56 is smaller by the predetermined numerical value “a” or morethan the second set flow rate M2, the controller 109 may control thenumber of revolutions of the water supply pump 52 to be increased.

If the flow rate measured by the flow meter 56 is within the error rangeof the second set flow rate, the controller 109 may turn on the watersupply heater 53 (S253′).

The controller 109 may determine whether a temperature measured by thethermistor 57 is within an error range of the second set temperature K2(S254′). In this case, the error range may mean a predeterminednumerical value range (between K2−b and K2+b) based on the second settemperature K2.

If the temperature measured by the thermistor 57 is higher by thepredetermined numerical value “b” or more than the second settemperature K2, the controller 109 may control the caloric value of thewater supply heater 53 to be decreased. If the temperature measured bythe thermistor 57 is lower by the predetermined numerical value “b” ormore than the second set temperature K2, the controller 109 may controlthe caloric value of the water supply heater 53 to be increased.

If the temperature measured by the thermistor 57 is within the errorrange of the second set temperature K2, the controller 109 may start thetimer and store a second initial flow rate in the data storage part(S255′).

The second initial flow rate may mean a flow rate measured by the flowmeter 56 when the timer is started.

The controller 109 may determine whether a calculated injection amountof hot water is equal to or greater than a second set injection amountZ2 (S256′).

The calculated injection amount may be calculated by the controller 109,and may mean a volume of hot water injected into the beverage brewingpack from after the timer is started. The second set injection amount Z2may mean a predetermined volume of hot water.

For example, the controller 109 may calculate a calculated injectionamount by multiplying an elapsed time of the timer by an average valueof the flow rate measured by the flow meter 56 and the second initialflow rate stored in the data storage part. In addition, the controller109 may compare the calculated injection amount with the second setinjection amount Z2. However, it is obvious that the controller 109 mayevaluate the calculated injection amount using another method.

If the calculated injection amount is smaller than the second setinjection amount Z2, the hot water may be continuously introduced intothe beverage brewing pack 12.

If the calculated injection amount is equal to or greater than thesecond set injection amount Z2, the controller 109 may turn off thewater supply pump 52 and the water supply heater 53 (S257′). The timermay be ended.

After the secondary hot water supplying step (S250′) according to thisimplementation, the second air injecting step (S270) may be omitted.

The controller 109 may turn off the bypass valve 35, the gas extractionvalve 73, the air control valve 156, and the main valve 9. Accordingly,the secondary hot water supplying step (S250′) may be completed, andsimultaneously, the water supplying step (S200) may be completed.

FIG. 31 is a flowchart illustrating a detailed control sequence of afermentation tank cooling step in the beverage brewing method of thebeverage maker according to the implementation.

If the water supplying step (S200) is completed, the controller 109 maycontrol the beverage maker in the fermentation tank cooling step (S300).

In the fermentation tank cooling step (S300), the controller 109 maycontrol the refrigeration cycle apparatus 13 to cool the fermentationtank 112. If the fermentation tank 112 is cooled, the temperature of theliquidized ingredients (e.g., malt in the example of a beer-maker) inthe beverage brewing pack 12 may be decreased.

The controller 109 may determine whether a temperature measured by thetemperature sensor 16 is higher than a preset third set temperature K3(S301).

The temperature sensor 16 may be installed in the fermentation tankassembly 11, and measure a temperature of the fermentation tank 112.

If the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 16 is higher thanthe third set temperature K3, the controller 109 may turn on thecompressor 131 (S302). If the compressor 131 is turned on, therefrigeration cycle apparatus 13 may be operated, and the fermentationtank 112 may be cooled by the circulation of a refrigerant.

Until before the temperature of the fermentation tank 113 becomes lowerthan the third set temperature K3, the compressor 131 may becontinuously operated, and the fermentation tank 112 may be continuouslycooled.

If the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 16 is lower thanthe third set temperature K3, the controller 109 may turn off thecompressor 131 (S303). Accordingly, the fermentation tank cooling step(S300) may be completed, and the mixing step (S400) may be initiated.

FIG. 32 is a flowchart illustrating a detailed control sequence of themixing step in the beverage brewing method of the beverage makeraccording to the implementation.

The mixing step (S400) may include control steps (S401 to S409) whichwill be described later.

The mixing step (S400) may be an aeration step configured to dissolveoxygen by supplying air to liquidized ingredients (e.g., malt in theexample of a beer-maker).

In the mixing step (S400), mixing of the liquidized ingredients (e.g.,malt) and aeration of supplying air to the liquidized ingredients may besimultaneously performed.

Referring to FIG. 32, if the mixing step (S400) is initiated, thecontroller 109 may determine whether the micro switch 630 is in theoff-state (S401).

If the micro switch 630 is turned on, the air injection pump 82 may bemaintained in the off-state, and the controller 109 may display an errorsignal on the display 109D (S402).

The error signal may include a notification that the beverage extractionvalve 62 is to be closed. Also, the error signal may include anotification that the rotating lever 620 is to be returned to theoriginal state.

In the entire mixing step (S400), if the micro switch 630 is turned on,the controller 109 may turn off the air injection pump 82. This isbecause air flowing in the main flow path 2 is not introduced into thebeverage brewing pack 12 in the fermentation tank assembly 11 but may bedischarged to the beverage extraction valve 62 through the beverageextraction flow path 61.

Meanwhile, if the micro switch 630 is turned off, the controller 109 maydetermine whether a temperature measured by the temperature sensor 16 islower than the third set temperature K3 (S403).

When the temperature of the fermentation tank 112 is again increased inthe fermentation tank cooling step (S300), the aeration may not beproperly performed. Therefore, if the temperature measured by thetemperature sensor 16 is higher than the third set temperature K3, thecontroller 109 may again control the beverage maker in the fermentationtank cooling step (S300).

If the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 16 is lower thanthe third set temperature K3, the controller 109 may turn on the gasextraction valve 73, the bypass valve 35, the main valve 9, and the aircontrol valve 156 (S404).

The controller 109 may turn on the air injection pump (S405).

If the air injection pump 82 of the air injector 8 is turned on, air atthe outside of the beverage maker may flow in the air injection flowpath 81 via the air injection pump 82 as the air injection pump 82 isoperated. Since the first, second, and third opening/closing valves 313,323, and 333 are in the off-state and the bypass valve is in theon-state, the air flowing in the air injection flow path 81 may flow inthe bypass flow path 34 and the main flow path 2 by passing through thebypass valve 35, and be introduced into the beverage brewing pack 12 viathe main valve 9.

The air flowed by the air injection pump 82 may be introduced into thebeverage brewing pack 12 through the same path as the primary and secondair injecting steps (S230 and S270) in the water supplying step (S200).

Since the mixing step (S400) is a step controlled after the cooling step(S300), the liquidized ingredients (e.g., malt in the example of abeer-maker) in the beverage brewing pack 12 may be in a state in whichthe liquidized ingredient has already been cooled to a specifictemperature or less. If the temperature of liquid is lower, thesolubility of gas with respect to the liquid may be increased.Therefore, if air is injected into the beverage brewing pack 12 in whichlow-temperature liquidized ingredients is accommodated, the air may beeasily dissolved in the liquidized ingredients. That is, oxygen may besupplied to the liquidized ingredients.

In order to brew beverage having good quality, an appropriatetemperature and an appropriate oxygen concentration may be maintainedwith respect to at least one of the ingredients (e.g., yeast in theexample of a beer-maker). The air that is flowed by the air injectionpump 82 and introduced into the beverage brewing pack 12 is dissolved inthe liquidized ingredients (e.g., malt), so that oxygen for allowing theingredient (e.g., yeast) to survive can be supplied to the liquidizedingredients (e.g., malt).

Meanwhile, after the air injection pump 82 is turned on, the controller109 may start the timer (S406).

The controller 109 may determine whether a time of the timer hasexceeded a preset fourth time t4 (S407).

The fourth time t4 is preferably about one hour.

If the time of the timer does not reach the fourth time t4, thecontroller 109 may maintain the on-state of the air injection pump 82.That is, until before the time of the timer reaches the fourth time t4,the air flowed by the air injection pump 82 may be continuously suppliedto the beverage brewing pack 12.

If the time of the timer exceeds the fourth time t4, the controller 109may turn off the air injection pump 82 (S408). The timer may be ended.

The controller 109 may turn off the gas extraction valve 73, the bypassvalve 35, the main valve 9, and the air control valve 156. Accordingly,the mixing step (S400) may be completed.

FIG. 33 is a flowchart illustrating a detailed control sequence of afirst additive injecting step in the beverage brewing method of thebeverage maker according to the implementation.

After the mixing step (S400), the controller 109 may control thebeverage maker in the additive injecting steps (S500, S600, and S700).

In the additive injecting steps (S500, S600, and S700), the beveragemaker may simultaneously or sequentially inject an additive of the firstcapsule C1, an additive of the second capsule C2, and an additive of thethird capsule C3. Contents and extraction times may be different for therespective capsules C1, C2, and C3, and therefore, the first additiveinjecting step (S500), the second additive injecting step (S600), andthe third additive injecting step (S700) may be sequentially controlled.

Hereinafter, the first additive injecting step (S500) will be described.Accordingly, the second additive injecting step (S600) and the thirdadditive injecting step (S700) can be readily understood.

Referring to FIG. 33, the first additive injecting step (S500) mayinclude control steps (S501 to S510) which will be described later.

If the first additive injecting step (S500) is initiated, the controller109 may determine whether a temperature measured by the temperaturesensor 16 is lower than a fourth set temperature K4 (S501).

If the temperature of the liquidized ingredients (e.g., malt) in thebeverage brewing pack 12 is excessively high, at least one ingredient(e.g., yeast) in the additive may have difficulty in surviving.Therefore, the additive is preferably injected in a state in which thetemperature of the fermentation tank 112 is sufficiently low.

If the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 16 is higher thanthe fourth set temperature K4, the controller 109 may display an errorsignal on the display 109D (S502). Also, the controller 109 may operatethe compressor 131 to cool the fermentation tank 112 until thetemperature of the fermentation tank 112 becomes lower than the fourthset temperature K4.

If the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 16 is lower thanthe fourth set temperature K4, the controller 109 may determine whethera temperature measured by the thermistor 57 is lower than a fifth settemperature K5 (S503).

In this case, the thermistor 57 may measure a temperature of the watersupply heater 53. The water supply heater 53 is in the off-state, butwater may be heated when the water supply heater 53 is not sufficientlycooled. Therefore, in order to prevent this, the additive is extractedby injecting water after the temperature of the water supply heater 53sufficiently become low.

If the temperature measured by the thermistor 57 is higher than thefifth set temperature K5, the controller 109 may display an error signalon the display 109D (S504).

If the temperature measured by the thermistor 57 is higher than thefifth set temperature K5, the controller 109 may turn on the firstopening/closing valve 313, the main valve 9, and the gas extractionvalve 73.

In the second additive injecting step (S600), the second opening/closingvalve 323 may be turned on instead of the first opening/closing valve313. In the third additive injecting step (S700), the thirdopening/closing valve 333 may be turned on instead of the firstopening/closing valve 313.

The controller 109 may turn on the water supply pump (S506).

By the control, water flowed by the water tank 51 flows in the watersupply flow path 4 by passing through the water supplying pump 52, andbe introduced into the first capsule C1 mounted in the first capsuleaccommodation part 31 as a material accommodation part of the supplier 3by passing through the first opening/closing valve 313.

The water introduced into the first capsule Cl may be mixed with theadditive accommodated in the first capsule C1, and flow in the main flowpath 2 together with the additive accommodated in the first capsule C1.A mixture of the water and the additive may be injected into thebeverage brewing pack 12 by passing through the main flow path 2 and themain valve 9.

In this case, since the gas extraction valve 73 is in the on-state, thepressure in the beverage brewing pack 12 is not increased but may beconstantly maintained even when the additive is supplied to theliquidized ingredients (e.g., malt in the example of a beer-maker).

The controller 109 may start the timer (S507).

The controller 109 may determine whether a time of the timer hasexceeded a fifth time t5 (S508).

The fifth time t5 may be changed in each of the first additive injectingstep (S500), the second additive injecting step (S600), and the thirdadditive injecting step (S700).

If the time of the timer does not reach the fifth time t5, thecontroller 109 may maintain the on-state of the water supply pump 52.That is, until before the time of the timer does not reach the fifthtime t5, the water flowed by the water supply pump 52 may becontinuously supplied to the beverage brewing pack 12 together with theadditive extracted from the first capsule C1.

If the time of the timer exceeds the fifth time t5, the controller 109may turn off the water supply pump 52 (S509). The timer may be ended.

The controller 109 may turn off the first opening/closing valve 313, themain valve 9, and the gas extraction valve 73 (S510). Accordingly, thefirst additive injecting step (S500) may be completed.

If the first additive injecting step (S500) is completed, the controller109 may sequentially perform the second additive injecting step (S600)and the third additive injecting step (S700).

FIG. 34 is a flowchart illustrating a detailed control sequence of thesupplier remaining water removing step in the beverage brewing method ofthe beverage maker according to the implementation.

The supplier remaining water removing step (S800) may include controlsteps (S801 to 5806) which will be described later.

After the additive injecting steps (S500, S600, and

S700), the controller 109 may control the beverage maker in the supplierremaining water removing step (S800).

Alternatively, after the additive injecting steps (S500, 5S00, andS700), the controller 109 may control the beverage maker immediately inthe fermenting steps (S900 and S1000) without the supplier remainingwater removing step (S800).

Referring to FIG. 34, if the supplier remaining water removing step(S800) is initiated, the controller 109 may turn on the first, second,and third opening/closing valves 313, 323, and 333, turn on the mainvalve 9, and turn on the gas extraction valve 73 (S801).

The controller 109 may turn on the air injection pump (S802).

By the control, air flowed by the air injection pump 82 may pass throughthe air injection flow path 81 and the water supply flow path 4 and bethen introduced into the supplier 3. In more detail, the air flowed bythe air injection pump 82 may be supplied to the first, second, andthird capsules C1, C2, and C3 respectively mounted in the first, second,and third capsule accommodation parts 31, 32, and 33 of the supplier 3,to push water remaining in the first, second, and third capsules C1, C2,and C3 to the main flow path 2. The remaining water and the air may flowin the main flow path 2 and be introduced into the beverage brewing pack12 by passing through the main valve 9.

That is, through the supplier remaining water removing step (S800),mixtures of the additives and the water, which have not yet beenextracted from the first, second, and third capsules C1, C2, and C3 inthe additive injecting steps (S500, S600, and S700) may be completelyextracted to be injected into the beverage brewing pack 12.

In this case, since the gas extraction valve 73 is in the on-state, thepressure in the beverage brewing pack 12 is not increased but may beconstantly maintained even when the air is injected into the beveragebrewing pack 12.

The controller 109 may start the timer (S803).

The controller 109 may determine whether a time of the timer hasexceeded a sixth time t6 (S804).

If the time of the timer does not reach the sixth time t6, thecontroller 109 may maintain the on-state of the air injection pump 82.That is, until before the time of the timer reaches the sixth time t6,the air flowed by the air injection pump 82 may push the remaining waterin the first, second, and third capsules C1, C2, and C3 such that theremaining water and the air are continuously injected into the beveragebrewing pack 12.

If the time of the timer exceeds the sixth time t6, the controller 109may turn off the air injection pump 82 (S805). The timer may be ended.

The controller 109 may turn off the first, second, and thirdopening/closing valves 313, 323, and 333, the main valve 9, and the gasextraction valve 73 (S806). Accordingly, the supplier remaining waterremoving step (S800) may be completed.

After supplier remaining water removing step (S800), the controller 109,as described above, may control the beverage maker in the first andsecond fermenting steps (S900 and 51000) and the ripening step (S1100),thereby brewing beverage. After that, the controller 109 may control thebeverage maker in the beverage extracting step (S1200), therebyextracting the brewed beverage.

According to the present disclosure, hot water heated by the watersupply heater is supplied to the fermentation tank assembly by passingthrough the material accommodation part, so that materials for brewingbeverage can be supplied to the beverage brewing pack according to thebeverage brewing method.

Further, the bypass flow path that bypasses the material accommodationpart is provided, so that water or air can be supplied to the beveragebrewing pack without passing through the material accommodation part ofthe supplier.

Further, the water supplying step includes the hot water supplying stepand the air injecting step, so that water can be uniformly mixed withbeverage materials.

Further, in the mixing step, the aeration in which oxygen is supplied toyeast contained in the beverage materials by supplying the air suppliedto the beverage brewing pack can be performed.

Further, in the additive injecting step, as hot water is injected intothe supplier, additives can be simply injected by the supplier, andadditives can be mixed with the hot water to be supplied.

Further, in supplier remaining water removing step, air is injected intothe supplier, so that water remaining in the supplier can be removed.

Further, the beverage brewing method can be automatically controlled bythe controller.

Meanwhile, the flow path including the main flow path 2, the watersupply flow path 4, the beverage extraction flow path 61, the gasextraction flow path 71, the air injection flow path 81, the air supplyflow path 154, and the like, which are described in the presentdisclosure, may be formed a hose or tube through which a fluid can pass.The flow path may be configured with a plurality of hoses or tubescontinued in the length direction thereof. The flow path may include twohoses or tubes disposed with another component such as a control valve,interposed therebetween.

The foregoing implementations are merely exemplary and are not to beconsidered as limiting the present disclosure. This description isintended to be illustrative, and not to limit the scope of the claims.Many alternatives, modifications, and variations may be made. Thefeatures, structures, methods, and other characteristics of theexemplary implementations described herein may be combined in variousways to obtain additional and/or alternative exemplary implementations.

As the present features may be implemented in several forms withoutdeparting from the characteristics thereof, it should also be understoodthat the above-described implementations are not limited by any of thedetails of the foregoing description, unless otherwise specified, butrather should be considered broadly within its scope as defined in theappended claims, and therefore all changes and modifications that fallwithin the metes and bounds of the claims, or equivalents of such metesand bounds, are therefore intended to be embraced by the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A beverage-making apparatus comprising: a watersupply heater configured to heat water; an ingredient supplier connectedto the water supply heater through a water supply channel, theingredient supplier having an ingredient accommodation part formedtherein; an air injector connected to the water supply channel; and acontainer connected to the ingredient supplier through a first channel.2. The beverage-making apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a firstvalve configured to regulate a flow through the first channel.
 3. Thebeverage-making apparatus of claim 2, further comprising: a second valveconfigured to regulate a flow through the water supply channel andprovided between the ingredient accommodation part and a connecting partof the air injector; and a bypass channel connected to the water supplychannel and to the first channel by bypassing the ingredientaccommodation part.
 4. The beverage-making apparatus of claim 3, furthercomprising a bypass valve configured to regulate a flow through thebypass channel.
 5. The beverage-making apparatus of claim 1, furthercomprising: at least one processor; a first valve configured to regulatea flow through the first channel; a second valve provided between thewater supply channel and the ingredient accommodation part; a bypasschannel connected to the water supply channel and to the first channelby bypassing the ingredient accommodation part; and a bypass valveconfigured to regulate a flow through the bypass channel, wherein the atleast one processor is configured to: in a state in which water issupplied to the container or air is injected into the container, openthe first valve and the bypass valve, and close the second valve.
 6. Thebeverage-making apparatus of claim 5, further comprising: a water tankconfigured to hold water therein; and a water supply pump configured topump the water out of the water tank towards the water supply heater,wherein the at least one processor is configured to: in a state in whichthe water is supplied to the container, activate the water supply pump.7. The beverage-making apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a flowmeter configured to measure a flow rate of water introduced into thewater supply heater, the flow meter provided in a water supply pumpoutlet channel connecting the water supply pump and the water supplyheater therethrough, wherein the at least one processor configured to:based on the flow rate measured by the flow meter being within a firstrange of flow rate values, activate the water supply heater.
 8. Thebeverage-making apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a thermistorconfigured to measure a temperature of water heated by the water supplyheater, the thermistor provided in at least one of the water supplychannel or the water supply heater, wherein the at least one processoris configured to: activate the water supply heater; and based on thetemperature measured by the thermistor being within a first range oftemperature values, calculate an injection amount of hot water injectedinto the container.
 9. The beverage-making apparatus of claim 8, whereinthe at least one processor is configured to: based on the injectionamount of hot water into the container exceeding a threshold injectionamount, deactivate the water supply pump and the water supply heater.10. The beverage-making apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a gasdischarger comprising: a gas extraction channel connected to thecontainer; and a gas extraction valve configured to regulate a flowthrough the gas extraction channel, wherein the air injector comprises:an air injection channel connected to the water supply channel; and anair injection pump configured to pump air to the air injection channel,wherein the at least one processor is configured to activate the airinjection pump to inject air into the container.
 11. The beverage-makingapparatus of claim 10, wherein the at least one processor is configuredto: in a first state in which the air injection pump injects air intothe container, close the gas extraction valve.
 12. The beverage-makingapparatus of claim 11, wherein the gas discharger further comprises apressure sensor provided on the gas extraction channel, wherein the atleast one processor is configured to: based on a pressure measured bythe pressure sensor exceeding a threshold pressure, deactivate the airinjection pump and open the gas extraction valve.
 13. Thebeverage-making apparatus of claim 10, wherein the at least oneprocessor is configured to: in a second state in which the air injectionpump injects air into the container, open the gas extraction valve. 14.The beverage-making apparatus of claim 13, wherein the at least oneprocessor is configured to: based on a first duration of time elapsingafter the air injection pump is activate, deactivate the air injectionpump.
 15. The beverage-making apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:at least one processor; a first valve configured to regulate a flowthrough the first channel; and a second valve provided between the watersupply channel and the ingredient accommodation part, wherein the atleast one processor is configured to: in a state in which an ingredientthat is accommodated in the ingredient accommodation part is extracted,open the first valve and the second valve.
 16. The beverage-makingapparatus of claim 15, further comprising: a water tank configured tohold water therein; and a water supply pump configured to pump the waterout of the water tank towards the water supply heater, wherein the atleast one processor is configured to: in a state in which an ingredientthat is accommodated in the ingredient accommodation part is extracted,activate the water supply pump.
 17. The beverage-making apparatus ofclaim 16, wherein the at least one processor is configured to: based ona first duration of time elapsing after the water supply pump isactivated, deactivate the water supply pump.
 18. The beverage-makingapparatus of claim 1, further comprising: at least one processor; afirst valve configured to regulate a flow through the first channel; anda second valve provided between the water supply channel and theingredient accommodation part, wherein the air injector comprises: anair injection channel connected to the water supply channel; and an airinjection pump configured to pump air into the air injection channel,wherein the at least one processor is configured to: in a state in whichwater remaining in the ingredient supplier is removed, open the firstvalve and the second valve and activate the air injection pump.
 19. Thebeverage-making apparatus of claim 18, wherein the at least oneprocessor is configured to: based on first preset duration of timeelapsing after the air injection pump is activated, deactivate the airinjection pump.
 20. The beverage-making apparatus of claim 1, furthercomprising: at least one processor; and a gas discharger configured todischarge gas from inside the container to an outside of the container,the gas discharger comprising: a gas extraction channel connected to thecontainer; and a gas extraction valve configured to regulate a flowthrough the gas extraction channel, and wherein the at least oneprocessor is configured to: open the gas extraction valve in a state inwhich water is supplied to the container, or ingredients accommodated inthe ingredient accommodation part are extracted, or water remaining inthe ingredient supplier is removed.